To go with AFP story Japan-food-health-natto-lifestyle,FEATURE by Tomohiro Osaki and Sarah Lai
This photo taken on June 8, 2026 shows US tourist Wesley Smith picking up a bowl of miso soup next to his lunch with natto in it at the Natto Kobo Sendai-ya restaurant in Tokyo. The highly nutritious beans inoculated with beneficial bacteria remain a traditional Japanese breakfast staple, but their pungent aroma, viscous texture and yeasty taste divide even their homeland. Recent years have seen natto join a series of fermented foods, from kimchi to kombucha, that have surged in popularity worldwide as Americans in particular seek better digestive health following the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) / To go with AFP story Japan-food-health-natto-lifestyle,FEATURE by Tomohiro Osaki and Sarah Lai