I want to elucidate the functionality of spices and connect them to "self-medication"
First of all, please tell us about your business.
S&B Shokuhin Sakata: We are a manufacturer that manufactures and sells spices and harps, instant foods and other products, mainly spices and harps. This year marks the 100th anniversary of our founding, and we hope to contribute to the health promotion of our customers by elucidating the health functions of spices in order to meet the health issues of our customers with the power of spices. We plan to disseminate information on the results of our laboratory and link it to new product development.
What kind of research is being conducted at Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1?
S&B Shokuhin Onda-sama: At Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba1, we are in charge of searching for ingredients contained in spices and research on the health functions of those ingredients. Specifically, we focus on basic research such as the creation of spice extracts, component analysis, and evaluation of health function using cells. In addition, we are also making prototypes such as tablets using spices, and we are also examining what kind of products our research results can be used for. For highly specialized research, such as action mechanisms and clinical trials, we are promoting research in collaboration with external institutions such as academia.
In the future, based on research data obtained by our company, we hope to lead to the development of "Food with Functional Labeling" that utilizes the functions of spices. Spices are not yet a very impressive ingredient in Japanese diets, so in the future, we will further appeal this point and prove that "spices are delicious and have a good effect on the body."
S&B Shokuhin Sakata: Furthermore, in the future, we aim to realize "self-medication through food" using spices. I want to aim for a world where the health functions of spices are widely recognized, more spices are incorporated into everyday meals, and stay healthy without relying on drugs. We will continue our research with the goal of realizing such a world.
The access from the head office was good, and it was convenient for researchers to commute.
Please tell us why you decided to move into Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1.
S&B Shokuhin Onda-sama: In order to relocate our research lab, we needed a lab corresponding to biosafety level 2 because of conducting cell experiments. In addition, since our research facility is located in Itabashi Ward and our headquarters is located in Nihonbashikabutocho, it was necessary to consider the convenience of commuting for researchers and access to the headquarters. Therefore, we selected Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1, which meets these conditions, both in terms of both facilities and location. The fact that the Mitsui Link Lab facility is easy to change its interior to specifications for bio samples and organic solvents was also a decisive factor in moving in.
When you actually move in, what kind of impressions do you have?
S&B Shokuhin Onda-sama: Since the previous research base was located in our own facility, we usually had little opportunity to interact with outside people. At Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba1, various companies are occupied in the same building, and they are always conscious of their existence, which is a good stimulus. Until now, social gatherings and other parties were usually related to the same food industry, and there was always a tendency for the range of exchanges to narrow, but at Mitsui Link Lab, resident exchange meetings are held irregularly, and there is an opportunity to interact with people from different industries, so that was very interesting, and I think it was good to move into Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1.
In the case of our company, preparing all the equipment necessary for research on its own will be a huge investment, but it is also a great advantage because common equipment can be used at nearby Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 2.
Are you developing from interactions between residents to collaborations?
S&B Shokuhin Onda-sama: That's right now. There are companies that are exchanging information, so I hope it will be interesting if it leads to new jobs.
In the future, we want you to disseminate more information and know what the power of spices is.
Do you have any requests or expectations for Mitsui Link Lab?
S&B Shokuhin Sakata: After all, I would like to actively deepen exchanges with people from different industries and create new innovations, so I hope that you will be excited through opportunities for bridging such as social gatherings.
S&B Shokuhin Onda-sama: For example, it would be nice if there was a place where tenant companies could exhibit their own business and discuss further, such as a poster presentation venue at academic conferences.
S&B Shokuhin is also a member of LINK-J.
S&B Shokuhin Onda-sama: Yes, at LINK-J, there are many events that you can participate for free, such as online events, so it will be a great study. Communication lounges and conference rooms that can be used by LINK-J members are also very useful for meetings with academics. When I travel to Osaka, I also use Life Science Hub West (Bingo-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City) frequently. In the future, I would like to use it in a wide range of situations. I also participated in an event held in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, but it has a different atmosphere from Mitsui Link Lab, and this is also interesting.
S&B Shokuhin Sakata: In the future, for example, if there is a place for research presentations via LINK-J, I would like to participate. We are also actively working on disseminating information, but I feel that it has reached only some people. Through LINK-J, we hope that various companies, academia, and consumers will be interested in our business and create a new collaboration by sharing our research results and knowing whether food manufacturers are doing this kind of research.
Thank you very much. Finally, please tell us about your future prospects.
S&B Shokuhin Sakata: We are currently conducting joint research with universities and research institutes to develop foods with functional labels, but eventually we hope to challenge collaborations with pharmaceutical and other life science players in the field of medicine, for example. As I mentioned at the beginning, we are now aiming to realize self-medication with spices. In the future, we hope that various challenges will be realized by making connections with many people using various frameworks.