WHO WE ARE
Our goal at Issei is to create beautiful, healthy, and delicious foods that bring happiness, honor our heritage, and garner a community. We aim to enhance diversity and inclusion in the food sector, building bridges across cultures through food.
we are
MISSION-DRIVEN.
INNOVATION FORWARD.
MINORITY & WOMAN-OWNED.
THE FIRST TAPIOCA/RICE-BASED GUMMY CANDY
Weary of the various gummy snacks and candies her children often asked for, Mika sought to create something different. The more she learned about gelatin (the foundation of most chewy snacks) and its origins (boiled animal skin/bones), the more she was convinced that there has to be better options – something that did not have excessive sugar, artificial flavors, and animal products.
This led Mika to explore the idea of mochi – a chewy Japanese cake – a treasured, ancient Japanese treat. Tweaking on the mochi idea, but innovating to come up with something completely new, Issei Mochi Gummies was born.
Picture this: soft, chewy, pillowy texture, somewhere between a gummy bear and a marshmallow – infused with natural flavors with zero gelatin, is Kosher, non-GMO.
Our dream is to create foods that spark joy for a happy life. Enjoy Mochi Gummies straight from the package, or pair them with ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, puddings, or your favorite dessert.
MEET OUR FOUNDER, Mika Shino
As a child moving to the U.S. and later working in various countries, such as with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Mika's curiosity for global food cultures led her to explore her own heritage. She wanted to instill the same spark for life through food in her children and cultivate pride of their Asian roots and its culinary traditions.She envisioned creating healthier foods, starting with Issei Mochi Gummies.
More about Mika:
- Attended Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Paris
- Published a cookbook, “Smart Bites for Baby” (Perseus Press, 2011)
- B.A. in Philosophy from NYU
- Master’s and PhD in Philosophy from University of Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne
- MSc in Philosophy from The London School of Economics
- A painter, a music producer, and an avid cook, she firmly believes in the cross-section of the arts – how they are all linked and foster a depth of appreciation of all that is beautiful in life.
- Resides in Washington D.C with her husband and two boys
Thank you for being part of our mission to make life sweeter, inclusive, and kinder to our planet.