This is canned yakitori from Hotei. These bad boys are blasting off to ISS in 2020 as Hotei received Japanese Space Food certification! At last, after more than two and a half years of waiting. (Image via FoodNavigator-Asia.com)

Canned yakitori, food for the Japanese astronauts, certified by JAXA

On Wednesday, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) gave the green light for yakitori to be one of the canned meals enjoyed by astronauts during missions in the International Space Station (ISS). Hotei Foods Corp from Shizuoka Prefecture got the privilege to produce more of the canned yakitori.

More than two and a half years of submission for consideration, canned yakitori by Hotei finally got the Japanese Space Food certification in late October.

A popular dish to drink your booze with, Hotei has been making yakitori since 1970. Delighted by the announcement, Hotei Foods Corp hoped that the astronauts will enjoy the canned yakitori.

Coming from a long way, the canned yakitori by Hotei passed the test from JAXA, including consistency in zero gravity and the shelf life of at least 18 months at room temperature. Also, the canned yakitori met hygiene management and production standards set by JAXA.

Assuring the zero-waste policy and "mottainai" way of living, the canned yakitori will be eaten through a ring-pull can with special velcro to keep the meal from scattering. It IS an extraordinary way to eat yakitori which usually comes on bamboo skewers.

Furthermore, JAXA confirmed that the Japanese astronauts are allowed to bring whichever certified meal they want in addition to the base meal by NASA.

Canned yakitori from Hotei - available in two flavors: soy sauce and yuzu pepper - will join the other 36 certified space meal to satisfy the taste buds of the Japanese astronauts yearning for the food from their homeland on Earth.

As of 25 October, the Japanese Space Food certification had been given to 36 products from 20 companies and groups. The canned yakitori by Hotei is expected to blast off with the Japanese astronauts heading to ISS next year.

Source: https://bit.ly/2ORAOva