A Product That Defies the Common Knowledge of International Sales

As the saying goes, 

“Seeing is believing”

This product wasn’t a “brochure that sells itself” (sales materials, like NUTA), but a “product that sells itself.”

Whether you look at it from the front

or from the top…

Isn’t it absolutely beautiful?!

This product is made with double-flowered cherry blossoms (Yae-zakura), which can have up to 40 petals per flower.   After each petal is carefully hand-picked and hand-washed, they are pickled in salt to retain their deep pink color.  

The Sakura Jelly Rice Pudding, made without using any eggs but with rice instead, comes in three varieties.  Even someone who usually avoids sweets, couldn’t resist trying it after seeing this beautifully colored product!

The product’s visual impact is so strong that buyers in Singapore were drawn to its appearance, and after tasting it, they were convinced to finalize the deal.

It is said that the heart of the maker is reflected in their product.  

The passion of Ms. Nakagoshi, the company owner and creater, is evident in both the look and taste of these puddings, and it clearly resonates with those who see them.

In international sales, it’s usually necessary to adjust your sales materials to appeal to people from different cultures and customs, a process known as ‘localization’.  However, this product taught us that it is not the words or language (English) that’s needed.  It is “Beauty” that is recognized as a universal language that transcends words and appeal to the product.

Typically, cherry blossom petals are only pickled in spring and used in tea, but Ms. Nakagoshi made it possible to enjoy the flower year-round, anywhere, and on many occasions – such as confiture on bread or syrup mixed with sparkling water.

Like other great products from Kochi Prefecture, Sakura Club’s offerings are not just remarkable on their own, but their backstory is deeply moving. 

The journey of developing a product that reflects Ms. Nakagoshi’s love for her hometown and the cherry blossoms that bloom there, along with the care taken for the consumers, is truly inspiring. 

More details about this are available on their website but it took 27 years from developing sakura tea to finally bringing this pudding to market! 

Overcoming countless challenges, Ms. Nakagoshi believed in both the product and herself, refining it through many trials and errors.  Today, this product is recognized in major food competitions and by professional chefs.

Perhaps this passion is the reason why the product speaks for itself, without the need for words.

This product has also been awarded in “Undiscovered Gems of Japan World Championship 2024”, and you can find Ms. Nakagoshi presenting her product in English on YouTube (for 15 minutes from 3h10m).

It goes to show that seeing something in action leaves a much stronger impression than just hearing or reading about it.