Natto

There are several food-related questions that Japanese frequently ask Westerners, not only to measure how deeply foreigners understand Japan, but also to reassure themselves that the Japanese people are unique. Such questions include “Do you eat raw fish?” and “Can you use chopsticks?” and “Do you eat natto?” Just as the Japanese tend to think that non Japanese people cannot master speaking Japanese, they are certain that foreigners do not like natto.

Natto is a fermented product. It has a sticky texture and a slight ammonia-like smell. Its production employs only two materials—soybeans and the fermentation starter natto kin.