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 (R) and his wife Maya Bourdeau eating lunch 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