Asahi Seika Co., Ltd.

??? (Asahi Seika) is a long-established Japanese confectionery manufacturer headquartered in Nishi-Tokyo, with roots dating back to 1924 when founder Kichitaro Morishita began producing karinto — a traditional Japanese deep-fried wheat snack — in Yokohama. Over nearly a century, the company has grown from a family-run operation into a multi-facility manufacturer with two production plants: the main Nishi-Tokyo factory and the Hanazono factory in Fukaya, Saitama. The Hanazono facility holds FSSC22000 certification, the world's highest-level international food safety management standard, underscoring the company's commitment to rigorous hygiene protocols, risk reduction in manufacturing processes, and food defense compliance. The Hanazono factory has also been designated an "Sai no Kuni" (Saitama Prefecture-designated) factory and has received the Saitama Food Hygiene Association's Excellence Facility Award. The company's core product is karinto, a traditional deep-fried dough confection made with carefully selected domestic wheat flour — including a proprietary in-house blend sourced from Japanese producers — along with unrefined sugars and vegetable oils chosen through direct sourcing visits to production sites. Artisan craftsmanship remains central to production, with skilled workers continuing to rely largely on manual techniques passed down from the company's founding era. ??? has won the highest honor at the National Confectionery Grand Exposition (????????) — the prestigious "Honorary President's Award" (?????) — multiple times, for products including "Goma Daigaku," "Koyuki Karinto," "Kinpira Gobo," and "Cookie Karinto Shio Butter Flavor." Beyond its signature karinto line, the company has expanded into premium gourmet popcorn under the Anthony's brand, caramel-coated snacks, and Western-style confections under the Fukurun-tei brand. The company also actively pursues OEM and custom product development for other confectionery manufacturers, offering expertise in both Japanese and Western snack formats. Distribution channels include eight company-owned retail stores, a nationwide franchise (FC) store network, direct-to-consumer e-commerce, wholesale to specialty and high-end retailers, and café operations. The company targets both domestic Japanese consumers and international markets, with export and overseas distribution increasingly in focus.