BASE BREAD Tastes Even Better—What’s the Meaning Behind “BASE”?…

  • July 22, 2026
#trademark

The other day, I had the chance to try “BASE BREAD Chocolate” at a sports gym I stopped by briefly.
BASE BREAD is the flagship product of the “BASE FOOD” series sold by Base Food Co., Ltd., and it’s a marbled-style bread made with Belgian chocolate.

BASE BREAD

Designed as a “complete nutritional food”—meaning it provides about one-third of the daily recommended nutrients based on Japan’s Dietary Reference Intakes, with two packets constituting one serving—it features a balanced blend of 33 essential daily nutrients, including protein, dietary fiber, and 26 types of vitamins and minerals, all derived from over 10 natural ingredients such as whole wheat, soybeans, and chia seeds. The back of the package is densely packed with nutritional information.

BASE BREAD

I’ve often seen this product at supermarkets, convenience stores, and drugstores, and while I’d been curious about it for a while, to be honest, I’d heard rumors that it “didn’t taste good,” so I’d never actually bought it.
However, it turned out to be much tastier than I expected. The bread is moist, and I didn’t notice any dryness. The slight bitterness might be a characteristic of whole wheat flour, but it balances well with the chocolate, creating a sophisticated flavor with a subtly sweet taste. It’s also quite filling, so I’d definitely buy it again.
The fact that you can enjoy it as a delicious bread—rather than having to force yourself to eat it just because it’s a health food—seems to be the result of repeated improvements. It made me want to try other products in the series as well.

Additionally, the fact that it contains no preservatives makes it a healthy choice. The company is also committed to food safety and security. Apparently, they’ve refined their manufacturing process and moisture control to achieve a long shelf life of about one month at room temperature.

In addition to BASE BREAD, BASE FOOD Co., Ltd. has expanded its product lineup under the common “BASE” brand, including BASE Cookies, BASE RAMEN, and BASE YAKISOBA, and has filed and registered multiple trademarks in Japan that incorporate “BASE” or “ベース.”
The distinctive BASE FOOD logo is said to depict “a nutritionally balanced diet” and “building the foundation for health” using a regular pentagon as its motif.
What is the origin of the BASE FOOD logo? – Help Center (Japanese only)
The word “BASE” (meaning “basis” or “base”) aligns with the brand’s philosophy of building the basis for health, making it a prime example of a brand strategy that effectively utilizes trademarks.

I believe the BASE series offers products that allow people to easily and deliciously replenish their nutrients—even when they skip breakfast, rely too heavily on carbohydrates, or simply don’t have the time to consider nutritional balance. However, a healthy lifestyle cannot be achieved with just one food item; in addition to a diet that includes a variety of foods, moderate exercise and sufficient sleep are also important. That said, complete nutrition foods like these seem to be a strong option for supporting nutritional management in our busy daily lives. (Syszo)

BASE FOOD (Japanese only) https://shop.basefood.co.jp/

2026 FIFA World Cup

  • July 15, 2026
#design #patent #trademark

The FIFA World Cup is held once every four years. The 2026 tournament is currently underway, with the final scheduled for July 20 (Japan time). I’m already looking forward to seeing which country will win.
Since I played soccer when I was a kid, I’ve been following this tournament closely.
Because this tournament is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, there is a time difference with Japan. Most matches take place in the morning Japan time, so I sometimes have to skip the early weekday morning games.

Did you know that intellectual property is involved in sports as well?
For example, tournament names and logos are protected by trademark rights; the structure of the match ball and camera and sensor technologies are protected by patent rights; and uniforms and official mascots are protected by design rights.
Incidentally, FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) holds several trademark registrations in Japan. (Usagi)

FIFA World Cup

*From the official gazette for Japanese Trademark No. 4094032

Extra-Thin, Firm Noodles Made with a “Patented Method”!

  • July 8, 2026
#patent

I saw the words “patented method” on Toyo Suisan’s “Tonpara Hakata Tonkotsu” cup noodles, so I decided to buy a pack.

Tonpara Hakata Tonkotsu

The package also listed the patent number: “Japanese Patent No. 7080653.”

Tonpara Hakata Tonkotsu

When I looked it up on J-PlatPat, I found that the invention is titled “Method for producing fried instant noodles to be reconstituted with hot water,” and the applicant is Toyo Suisan. Looking at the claims, it stated that the raw noodle strands are deep-fried without undergoing an α-conversion process. Additionally, Toyo Suisan’s website referred to it as the “Non-Steam Manufacturing Method.”
Toyo Suisan website: Announcement of the New Release of “Tonkotsu Paradise: Hakata Tonkotsu” (Japanese only)
https://www.maruchan.co.jp/news_topics/entry/2026/05/post_20211144.html

This is a different patent from the “special manufacturing method for keeping raw noodles delicious”—also from Toyo Suisan’s Maruchan series—which I covered in a previous blog post!
Past blog post: “Manufacturing method for keeping raw noodles delicious”

The noodles were thin and firm, just like you’d expect from tonkotsu ramen, and the broth was rich and delicious. It’s also great that the wait time is only 2 minutes! (Marron)

Jewel-Like Sweets

  • July 1, 2026
#trademark

The other day, I bought some “Hana-gori” sweets made by Kamehiroyoshi.

Hana-gori

What drew me to buy them was their refreshing appearance.
Hoping to feel even a little bit refreshed during the rainy season, I decided to give them a try.

As the product description states, “These jewel-like sweets are crafted from highly refined domestic rock sugar and premium thread-like agar,” and they are indeed as beautiful as jewels with their vibrant colors!

“Kyogashi-tsukasa Kamehiroyoshi” is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop located in Nishi Ward, Nagoya City.
Official Website: https://www.kamehiroyoshi.com/

Even if you can’t make it to the shop in Nishi Ward, it’s great that you can purchase several of their products through Takashimaya’s “100 Selected Confectioneries” collection.

I hope to get through the hot summer by taking in a bit of coolness through my eyes as well.

“Kamehiroyoshi Hana-gori” was registered as a trademark on July 1, 2020, with Class 30 “Japanese sweets, confectionery,” etc., as the designated goods (Rights Holder: Kenichi Mitani, Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6265156).
(Sakuramochi)