The STORY of how midori came to be...

Unbeknownst at the time to founder and creator Midori, her appreciation for soulful Japanese home cooking was born one autumn afternoon in the early '90s, as she watched her late grandmother Reiko chop fresh vegetables picked that very morning from the 'hatake' (communal allotment) down the road.  

There, in Reiko's humble kitchen, Midori's mother, aunt and grandmother sat cross-legged on cushioned mats, skilfully wrapping gyozas whilst chatting, laughing and bickering. 

This precious moment was forever ingrained in Midori's memory. 

During the long and harsh Hokkaidō winters, temperatures would typically plummet to -10°C, house-bounding the citizens of Otaru, a rural fishing village situated on the west coast of Japan's northernmost island.  

In anticipation of these looming conditions, the ritual of preparing food in bulk - from pickling and fermenting vegetables to wrapping gyoza - would take place annually with the combined efforts of family members and neighbours.  

Fast-forward to the Covid-19 lockdowns; Midori, now living in Didsbury, found herself longing for these home comforts and familiar flavours during this lonely, isolating period.  With limited local options further amplified by restaurant closures, Midori rolled up her sleeves and got to work in the kitchen. Realising the joy this labour of love brought her, she spent the next two years perfecting her recipes in hopes of sharing them with the great people of Manchester. 

From the community spirit of Otaru's grassroots to the adventurous appetites of Mancunians, Midori has truly come full circle.