Amin Abbas

DUBAI: KYNEXT is a Japanese business company specialized in various categories with a main purpose to root Japan’s best specialty products into the world’s food culture and a producer of ‘Emperor Oyster’, the highest quality oysters in Japan.

The Emperor Oyster won the best innovation award for ‘Best Frozen/Chilled Product’ category at Gulfood 2024 in Dubai last month.

The oyster comes from Okayama Prefecture and is grown on an island in the Seto Inland Sea, where nutrients flow in from the mountains and the water quality is extremely high.

“We are Japanese oyster producers. We farm pacific oysters in the Seto Inland Sea (called Japan’s Mediterranean Sea), which has the best water quality in Japan. Normally, the season for eating raw pacific oysters is from November to April, but we have been researching for many years so that you can eat freshly harvested pacific oysters anytime, anywhere. By using a freezing technology (DENBA+) that maintains its freshness, we have created a product that allows you to enjoy the taste of freshly harvested food anytime, anywhere in the world. We named this oyster ‘Emperor Oyster,’ which means ‘king of kings of oysters.’ We are currently exporting to Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia in Asia. We are also working hard to maintain and improve water quality in the sea. As a result, over the past 18 years, no abnormalities have been found in water quality tests or random solid tests,” said Yoshinori Matsubara, CEO of KYNEXT.

“We have received a lot of feedback from professional chefs, and research is currently underway in collaboration with universities and industry. Please try our frozen Emperor Oysters, which have impressed chefs at famous restaurants and foodies in Asia,” he added.

About the company establishment, Matsubara said: “KYNEXT was launched in January 2020 with three people as a new business company. The three of us originally met as friends in the food and beverage industry. That was about 18 years ago. At that time, all of Japan still full of energy, not only the food and beverage industry but also various industries Due to inbound effect Increasing number of tourists, rush of hotel construction, local government approval for private lodging business, etc.”

“At last, a system to accept ‘foreign tourists’ has been established. The infrastructure has been completed. It was that time. However, it is too much of a business aimed at tourists. For us Japanese people, that means Would you say it’s unacceptable? The comfortable living environment is starting to collapse. The sound of those footsteps continues to be heard.”

“It was at such an introductory stage and to capture Due to excessive sales promotion of service content. Small sole proprietor, moving away from the city Farmers, livestock farmers, and fishermen. the fact is that it is even more painful ss taxes go up, so do costs, if there is no one to sell to, we have no choice but to withdraw. from such a situation which was the Covid – 19 pandemic. The serious situation was not only is it spreading in the news. Even Japan’s proud national treasure ‘special products’ got a devastating effect. Production in rural areas where nature remains is not available like in big cities. There is a ‘tradition that has been passed down’ to protect them It’s also about preserving Japanese culture. We are the future of such producers and their future children and for posterity, Place there from a long time ago, A tradition passed down, I want to convey history. Through products called ‘Made in Japan’, People of various races around the world, holding hands and encouraging each other, Create an opportunity to move forward together”.

“Such regional revitalization and traditional revitalization to be a bridge, Through the community, I would like to continue to spread the word. As many people as possible are healthy, to escape from disaster, I wish you all the best in your life,” he added.

A representative of KYNEXT said about their participation at Gulfood 2024:” We knew there was a demand for oysters, but there were problems with the distance and logistics from Japan to the Middle East. However, with new low-frequency refrigeration technology (DENBA), it is now possible to maintain freshness and freeze the food before sending it”.

About the definition of the new low-frequency refrigeration technology (DENBA), the representative said: “A technology that vibrates water molecules, aligns them, stabilizes them, and freezes them. It stays fresh longer than regular frozen food without suffering from freezer burn. We believe that the high quality of this oyster, combined with DENBA’s freezing technology to preserve it, which led to Gulfood 2024 and winning the best innovation award for ‘Best Frozen/Chilled Product’ category at the event”.

About the feedback of their participation at Gulfood 2024, the representative said: “In addition to exporting oysters themselves, we have the technology to farm oysters on land, so we would like to open an oyster farming factory in the Middle East as well. We are looking for a partner who can tackle this. We are working towards those two goals.”