The Tsukamoto business family from Japan is so enthusiastic about the Mlinotest buckwheat noodles (and also spelt pasta) that they came to Ajdovščina to see the production.
And how did they find out about buckwheat and spelt noodles from Mlinotest in the far Japan? Reiko Tsukamoto had received a gift, with a package of Mlinotest pasta included. She was very satisfied with the noodles. The important fact is that Reiko Tsukamoto is not just another Japanese housewife, one of many who daily prepare soba noodles for their families. She is a member of one of the best known Japanese business families, also with ties to our country. The family company Tsukamoto imports quality delicacies from Slovenia, which makes buckwheat and spelt pasta interesting for them also from the business point of view.
Checking the quality on the spot
The Tsukamoto family delegation therefore decided on a business trip to Mlinotest in Ajdovščina. Reiko Tsukamoto was accompanied by Mr Hirota, the chef at their restaurant, and Ms Inoue, an expert for import of delicacies to Japan. They were accompanied by the Japanese ambassador in Slovenia Keiji Fukuda, and joined by the delegation from the Ajdovščina municipality with its mayor Tadej Beočanin.
Their host was the chairman of the board of Mlinotest David Nabergoj. He presented to the guests the products made of buckwheat and spelt, explained the production procedures and presented all the certificates proving the quality of raw materials, and adherence to the demanding technological procedures. "Buckwheat and spelt are the starting raw material in bakeries, pasta production, and milling. Our products are recognized as excellent, and more and more consumers are choosing them, especially those who want not only good products, but products of truly excellent quality. Therefore we consider the possibility of establishing business relationship very real," Nabergoj is optimistic at the occasion of the visit by the important visitors from Japan.
The Tsukamoto family connection with Slovenia
The Tsukamoto family is quite familiar with Slovenia. They import Slovenian wine, even for the Japanese court, and years ago they acted as a sponsor at the international wine competition in Ljubljana. Tosihiko Tsukamoto has been acting as a member of the international commission for assessment of wines at the Ljubljana international Wine Fair since 1983. Through his annual business trips to Slovenia for participating at Wine Fairs he got to know our country, our wines, and our cuisine, and became an enthusiast. He established and financed a fund for scholarships for two Slovenian experts per year to allow them to improve their knowledge of rich Japanese culture and art. Tsukamoto owns an extremely successful company for marketing wine Lumière Winery. Their restaurant is very successful as well, in which every year two chefs from Slovenia are accepted.

The Tsukamoto family has another well-known project in Slovenia: at the College of Biotechnology estate in Ptuj three autochthonous Japanese species of soya were sowed four years ago. This proves that the Tsukamoto family is familiar with Slovenia, and is an important initiator of business contacts and cooperation.