About Us

伝統や歴史のみに寄り掛からない日本食を、世界の人々へ。

A Creative Japan-Inspired Food Brand.

Heritage Inspired And Driven to Innovate.

Our Story

Abokichi is dedicated to celebrating the creativity that emerges when different cultures come together.

Our name, Abokichi, means “Fortunate Avocado.” It is a word we created by combining abokado (アボカド), the Japanese word for avocado, with kichi (吉), a Japanese character associated with good fortune.

The avocado originated in the Americas and has travelled across cultures and cuisines around the world. Even the word has made its own journey—from the Indigenous languages of Mexico, through Spanish, and eventually into Japanese as abokado. For us, that journey makes the avocado a fitting symbol of how food and culture can travel, adapt, and become part of something new. Abokichi expresses our belief that cultural diversity is something to celebrate.

Abokichi was founded by Fumi Tsukamoto and Jess Mantell, two women with a shared passion for Japanese food culture and sustainable living.

Our story began when Jess discovered onigiri, Japanese rice balls, while living in Tokyo. She loved them as a simple, convenient, and satisfying food for life on the go.

After returning to Canada, Jess found it difficult to find the same kind of natural, minimally processed food when she needed something quick. Together with her business and life partner, Fumi, she began introducing onigiri to people in Canada, starting at farmers’ markets in the Toronto area.

What began with onigiri has grown into Abokichi today. Together with our dedicated team, we continue to create delicious, thoughtfully made foods inspired by Japanese food culture—and by the possibilities that emerge when cultures meet.

Story of OKAZU

We wanted to add chili oil to our onigiri but soon realized the products shipped from Japan usually contain a lot of chemicals such as preservatives, msg and stabilizers. So we decided to make our original all natural OKAZU condiment and started to use it in our onigiri. And that was a big hit! So we started to put it in jars.

Today we sell three varieties of our miso-based sesame oil condiments: OKAZU Chili Miso, OKAZU Curry Miso and OKAZU Spicy Chili Miso. All have been featured by major media outlets, including The New York Times, Chatelaine, the Globe and Mail, CBC, Edible Toronto, Toronto Life and more! (See our Media page)

OKAZU was chosen as a Gold Winner for the 2020 sofi Awards. Out of 1800 marinades, dressings and condiments, OKAZU was deemed the tastiest! Read more about it here.

Story of ABO Miso Soup

Abokichi ABO Miso Soup is our newest product. Our instant miso soup is non-GMO, gluten-free and 100% vegan — unlike traditional miso broth which is made with katsuo bushi (fermented tuna flakes). Abokichi ABO Miso Soup is made from organic soybeans, garlic, spices and sake kasu — the fermented, pressed rice leftovers from sake brewing.

Abokichi ABO Miso Soup is available in three flavours: Original, Chili, and Black Pepper - all natural sources of healthy enzymes and prebiotics – good bacteria that promote healthy digestion.