KYODO NEWS - Jun 29, 2017 - 15:30 | All, Lifestyle

A group of tatami makers and retailers in southwestern Japan has developed edible chopsticks flavored with rush, the main material of the traditional Japanese floor mats.

（Supplied Image)

The 20-centimeter-long stick-shaped snack contains 8 percent rush along with other ingredients such as flour and eggs, and is mildly bitter and sweet with a subtle rush flavor. It is also hard enough to withstand being dipped into soups without becoming soft.

The snack is scheduled to be sold online for 1,930 yen ($17) for a set of 10 sticks from mid-July.

"We hope it will serve as a catalyst for increased demand of rush and revival of tatami," said an official at the Kumamoto Prefecture-based group.

Rush is known to have antibacterial effects and was taken as medicine in the ancient times, according to the group.

More than 90 percent of the plant in Japan is grown in the Yatsushiro region in the prefecture, but cheaper Chinese imports and artificial replacements have entered the market in recent years, damaging the domestic industry.