1. What is Sakata Beika?

Sakata Beika Co., Ltd. was founded in 1951 and is a snack manufacturer that specializes in rice crackers.

Its headquarters is located near the mouth of the majestic Mogami river, across from the bank with an open view.

It is said that the company’s founder, Eiichi Sato, wanted to “protect the local specialty products,” so he used locally grown Shonai rice and, after much trial and error, introduced Japan’s first thinly baked rice crackers to the world.

From the Sakata Senbei Co., Ltd. website

In addition, the “particularity about rice and manufacturing methods” that has remained consistent since the company’s founding remains unchanged even after 70 years, and the company carries out everything in-house, from sourcing the rice as raw material to making the dough, baking, and packaging.

From the Sakata Beika Co., Ltd. website

The products are made with great care, carefully assessing the condition of the rice and adapting to seasonal changes, and are then individually packaged by employees before being delivered to stores within the prefecture and even outside the prefecture.

One of Sakata Beika’s standard products is the Oranda Senbei rice cracker.

This product has been loved for over 60 years since its release in 1962, and approximately 200 million pieces are produced each year.

From Sakata Beika Online Shop

So what exactly is the appeal of Oranda Senbei rice crackers?

2. What is the origin of the name "Oranda Senbei"?

Oranda Senbei rice crackers are the original thin-baked rice crackers made from 100% Shonai rice.

They are made using simple ingredients such as rice, oil and salt.

The catchy name “Oranda Senbei” actually means “Orada (our) rice crackers” in the Yamagata dialect.

I remember that Oranda Senbei have been commonly seen in supermarkets and stores in Sakata for a long time and have been a widespread part of everyday life.

Recently, a variety of flavors have been released, including regional flavors and collaborative products with other companies.

“Akita Edamame Flavor” Oranda Senbei rice crackers made with ingredients from Akita Prefecture

If you see it in a store in Yamagata, it’s a dish you should definitely try.

3. When it comes to Sakata Beika, a factory tour is a must!

Sakata Beika holds factory tours for the general public.

Anyone can freely enter through the entrance and get a close-up look at how the rice crackers are made.

The factory is also open to the public with the hope that Shonai’s rice culture will be passed on to future generations, and inside the factory you can see exhibits related to rice cultivation in Shonai.

This time, I would like to introduce the appeal of Sakata Beika that I felt during my tour of the factory.

① Making Oranda Senbei

The first thing that surprised me about the factory tour was the length of its line!

It’s an astounding 545m long!

Of this, 395m of the line can be viewed.

Once you pass through the entrance, you’ll find a long corridor that continues to the back.

First, let’s look at the process of making rice crackers.

On the day of our visit, the dough was being made at a different factory, so we were able to see a video summarizing the process of making rice crackers and the actual machines on display.

The process of making rice crackers can be summarized as follows:

The process of making Oranda Senbei

① Polishing: Polish the rice.
② Washing: Wash the rice in a rice washer and let the water soak in.
③ Milling: Crush rice into flour↓
④ Steaming and kneading: Crushed rice is mixed with water and steamed.
↓
⑤ Cooling : Cool the finished dough.
⑥ Kneading: Knead the dough.↓
⑦ Rolling and shaping: The rolled out dough is shaped into rice crackers.
⑧ Drying and cooling: The cut out dough is dried and stored.
↓
⑨ Baking: Bake the dough. ↓
➉ Seasoning: Season the freshly baked rice crackers and they’re done!

The thing that struck me most during my tour of the factory this time was how the rice crackers are made in a way that makes the most of the flavor and aroma of the rice.

For example, in the process of milling rice, they process it without adding heat, preserving the flavor of the rice, and I was very impressed by the company’s extraordinary efforts in the pursuit of deliciousness.

I was also able to see the process of making rice crackers in detail, which was a very valuable experience!

② Rice cultivation in Shonai

As we toured the factory, we found many other intriguing exhibits.

This is a booth related to rice cultivation in Shonai.

There was also an exhibit about Yamagata’s brand rice, Haenuki and Tsuyahime.

Now, suddenly, here’s a quiz!

How many rice crackers can be made from this one bag of rice?

Here’s a hint: the weight of one bale! One bale weighs about 60kg.

If you were to replace that amount in Oranda Senbei rice crackers, it would amount to approximately 16,200 pieces!

Approximately 16,200 pieces of rice crackers (15 pieces per box, over 50 boxes in all)

As you can see, Oranda Senbei rice crackers are made from 100% Shonai rice, and many products can be made from one bale of rice.

And further back, we were able to see the machines that were actually used to make the rice crackers.

3. Learn about the history of Sakata Beika

Rice washing machine

A rice washing machine used around 1965. You’ll be amazed at its size and power!

Cutting die

This is a cutting mold used to cut out the finished dough. If you look closely, you’ll see that there are many different sizes and shapes.

Next to it was a precious photograph related to the history of Sakata Beika, showing the cut-out rice crackers being dried in the sun.

In those days, there were no machines, and each step had to be done by hand, requiring a lot of manpower.

④ The secret to its deliciousness

Now, if you go further in, you will find the Oranda Senbei Encyclopedia booth…

Here you can learn the secret behind the deliciousness of Oranda Senbei rice crackers.

The secret to the crisp, light texture that is unique to Oranda Senbei rice crackers lies in their size and thinness.

I feel that the secret to its deliciousness lies in the traditional manufacturing method that highlights artisanal skill!

Recently, Sakata Beika has also become a popular choice for overseas tours and field trips.

Customers who visit the museum often express their amazement at how rice crackers are made, and say things like, “It’s fun just to look at it!”

As such, while the company is deeply rooted in the local community, it also has a global side, so you can enjoy a factory tour with a broad perspective.

⑤ Taste the freshly made food

Speaking of touring a food manufacturer’s factory, one of the attractions is being able to get your hands on the finished products as soon as they’re ready!

At Sakata Beika, you can sample freshly baked rice crackers on the day.

There are no photos of inside the factory this time, but the freshly baked rice crackers had a strong rice aroma and a crunchy texture that was addictively delicious!

4. You can also try out the experience at the Oranda Senbei Factory!

① Hand-baked rice cracker experience

After touring the factory, we headed to the Oranda Senbei Factory on the second floor.

Here you can buy rice crackers delivered straight from the factory as souvenirs, and also experience baking rice crackers by hand.

This time, I had the chance to try my hand at baking rice crackers!

It’s super easy to make! Just place the rice crackers on the wire rack and turn them over frequently, counting from 3 to 3.

The rice crackers start out translucently thin, but gradually they become white and plump.

Continue turning it over for 3 seconds until it is cooked to your desired colour.

It was a lot of fun, and I was able to wait with excitement, watching the rice crackers cook until they were golden brown!

Once cooked, it is served with a sweet soy sauce sauce.

The light, crunchy texture is amazing, and the aroma of rice the moment you put it in your mouth is irresistible…

If you have children around elementary school age, I think they will enjoy baking together. Please give it a try!

② Recommended products

There are many other attractions at the Oranda Senbei Factory.

One of them is the wide variety of items available to buy as souvenirs.

This time, we will introduce some recommended products for home use, souvenirs, and parties.

Select Gift

This Select Gift is there for you to easily choose your favorite flavor of Oranda Senbei rice crackers.

You can choose from 10 packets of rice crackers out of 6 different flavors.

Individually wrapped pack

And to the far left are a selection of individually wrapped packs of Oranda Senbei rice crackers.

A wide variety of rice crackers are sold in easy-to-pick formats, including the popular grilled corn flavor and “nibosen,” which is made with dried sardines in a nod to Sakata ramen.

“Grilled corn flavor” with a fragrant soy sauce and corn flavor that you will never tire of

“Nibosen” won the top prize at a contest that brought together delicious Yamagata foods

Fresh and Savory
This is the popular crispy and crunchy series.

You can enjoy bite-sized thin rice crackers and crispy rice puff chocolate.

The vibrant packaging features landscapes and local specialties associated with Yamagata.

If you look closely, you will see designs of Sakata maiko, taro root, cherries, La France pears, and flower hats.

There are many other attractive products that we can’t introduce here, so be sure to check them out.

3. An evolved version of rice crackers?

From here on, we will introduce a number of new products that will change your concept of rice crackers.

First introduced last year was a dipping sauce to go with simple-tasting rice crackers!

Eat it with simple rice crackers dipped in a variety of flavors, such as basil and garlic tomato sauce or garlic-flavored mayonnaise, and it quickly turns into a Japanese-Western fusion snack!

It has an elegant atmosphere and would go well with wine snacks.

This is “Denen Chocolat”, located right at the entrance.

This popular winter-only item offers a harmonious combination of rich milk chocolate and crispy brown rice crackers.

What’s also great about Sakata Beika is that they sell their rice crackers as a health-conscious product.

The “Mirai Onigiri” shown in the upper left is a popular snack for athletes.

It uses domestically produced ingredients, is rich in protein, and has the advantage of helping to build muscle.

The biggest attraction of the Oranda Senbei factory is that you can find a wide variety of products that you wouldn’t normally see in a regular souvenir shop!

Be sure to drop by after your factory tour.

5. Message

Finally, Mrs. Imai from Sakata Beika Co., Ltd. gave a message to everyone reading VISIT YAMAGATA.

“The Sakata Beika factory tour and the Oranda Senbei factory are facilities that you can enjoy with your family and friends. Please come and visit us!”

6. Summary

This time we introduced you to the Sakata Beika factory tour, which is a must-visit when you come to Yamagata, and the Oranda Senbei factory.

Sakata Beika continues to evolve by providing products that meet the needs of the times.

It has been over 60 years since the company first sold thin rice crackers in Japan, and more recently it has also begun selling products that support the health of athletes.

Its deliciousness and popularity is spreading across the country, so we’ll be keeping an eye on it in the future.