Japanese Natto Starter Spores

Just made my second batch of natto using the Nattomoto (Mitoku) brand starter. My results are night and day better than the packaged, premade stuff I had been buying. Truly no comparison between the two. Two words of advice: First word…READ THE DIRECTIONS! Second word….READ THE DIRECTIONS! The English directions are one of the images on the product page. For my first batch, I didn’t read the directions carefully and layered the soybeans way too thick (like 4 inches deep). Also, I used plastic wrap on top of the beans instead of cheese cloth (didn't realize it was supposed to breathe). My first batch was OK, but didn’t turn out as I had hoped. But after actually reading the directions, I realized they call for a THIN layer of beans to be covered with a cheese cloth. For my second batch, I layered the beans only about inch or so deep in the container and used a cheese cloth. What a difference! Stringy, slimy, pungent, healthy wonderfulness that is natto!

Made fantastic natto the first time. Yes, the instructions with the package are only in Japanese, but they provide an English version in the product description and there are many recipes on line. Very glad Amazon carries this!

I've been making natto for two years using this brand. My last batches failed completely with no stringiness, so I bought a new starter in March through Amazon. It has a date of 2020 but the first batches failed completely so I'm giving up. My natto soybeans are two years old now and maybe my natto/yogurt maker is failing but it is warm so I think it is still working. My previous culture has a date of 2019 so it should still be ok, too. My very first starter culture failed after 6 months or a year so I know they have a definite shelf life.It could be something else, but I think the starter spores sold through Amazon are dead.

Excellent spores makes a great natto.

It worked perfectly. We have made a perfect big bow of natto. It's a small tube but you need only a little bit nattomoto for one pound of soybean. It can make 60 pounds of soybeans base on the rate with this one box.

The ad is not correct. It is 3g, not 5g. Besides, there is no English instruction. if they are new to you, then you got problem.

It didn't work.

I couldn't make this work. I thought I was buying starter culture, not knowing there was any difference. I couldn't tell what the instructions were, since they were only in Japanese. I spent time and money trying to make natto, since it is not available here. This has been discouraging. Altogether about $40 and several hours spent with absolutely no one willing to help me. All I have is ruined soy beans I'm trying to feed to birds or squirrels. Yes, I could drive to the next state over and buy natto. Would Takahashi Laboratory like to do that? Do I like natto? No. Someone gave me some as a gift and it alleviated pain from arthritis. Oh. But don't worry. I've found plan B.