Blue Seal facts for kids
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| Restaurant chain | |
| Industry | Ice cream |
| Founded | 1948 in Okinawa, Japan |
| Headquarters | |
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Area served
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Okinawa |
| Parent | Foremost Blue Seal |
Blue Seal Ice Cream is a popular ice cream company from Japan. It is run by a company called Foremost Blue Seal. You can find Blue Seal ice cream almost everywhere in Okinawa. Their famous saying is: "Born in America, Raised in Okinawa."
Contents
The Story of Blue Seal Ice Cream
How Blue Seal Started
Blue Seal ice cream was first made for American soldiers. These soldiers were in Okinawa after World War II ended. The ice cream was meant to cheer them up and give them a taste of home.
The very first Blue Seal factory opened in 1948. It was located on a US military base. For many years, only Americans could buy Blue Seal products.
Opening to the Public
In 1963, Blue Seal started selling its ice cream to everyone in Okinawa. That same year, their main store opened in Urasoe. This store still looks like an old-fashioned American diner today.
Later, the company became owned by people in Okinawa. This led to new and exciting flavors. They started using local Okinawan ingredients. Some of these unique flavors include beni-imo (purple sweet potato) and Goya bitter melon.
Expanding Beyond Okinawa
Blue Seal continued to grow. In 2009, the company opened a new store in Shibuya, Tokyo. This was a big step. It was their first store in the Kanto region of Japan.
