Cricket Protein Company in Japan Shuts Down After Right-Wing Conspiracies

Cricket held by chopsticks
Gryllus CEO Watanabe Takahito had a mission: to promote cricket protein as a healthy, environmentally friendly alternative to meat. This week, the company filed for bankruptcy after right-wing conspiracies drove it out of business.

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A Japanese company that specializes in making protein derived from crickets has said it’s filed for bankruptcy. The closure comes after a school in Tokushima experimented with the protein powder, prompting a conspiracy theory wave from Japan’s right wing.

The company, Gryllus (Japanese: グリラス), is named after a species of cricket, the Gryllus bimaculatus. Tokushima University researcher Watanabe Takahito wanted to popularize cricket protein due to its high nutritional value and low environmental impact.

A picture showing the low environmental impact of crickets compared to other protein sources as measured by (from top to bottom) greenhouse gas emissions, volume of water required for growth, and feed required for protein generation.
A picture showing the low environmental impact of crickets compared to other protein sources as measured by (from top to bottom) greenhouse gas emissions, the volume of water required for growth, and feed required for protein generation. (Source: Gryllus’ website)

At first, the company saw success. It launched a product with popular “off-brand” Japanese retailer MUJI and was running experiments with NTT. It had solid funding and around 50 employees.

However, all hell broke loose online when the company teamed up with a school in its home prefecture of Tokushima to offer food containing cricket protein to students. Gryllus and the school confined the experiment to a single food item, a pumpkin croquette. Students knew what was in the food and had to opt-in to trying it.

The conspiracy theories start

That wasn’t good enough for Japan’s right wing. Once the news hit Japanese media, conspiracy theorists latched onto it as evidence that the “deep state” and Powers That Be were trying to kill people en masse and pave the way for “The Great Reset.” Disinformation spread, saying that the cricket powder was poisonous and caused infertility.

As usual, much of the disinformation was based on half-truths. For example, the claim that crickets caused infertility was based on signs in stores selling crickets in China, warning pregnant women they shouldn’t consume them.

“There are tons of foods you should avoid when pregnant,” said Watanabe, “including coffee and sashimi.”

“It was all fake views, created intentionally to increase impressions and generate profit online.”

Not done fighting

Soon, the company’s contact form was overwhelmed. Some messages contained death threats against Watanabe himself. PR specialists advised Watanabe against arguing against the conspirators, saying it was pointless. (“They’d just say the accurate data and info we showed them was lies. There was no way to have a fair debate.”)

The storm subsided after around three months. However, the damage was done. Major combinis like Family Mart pulled Gryllus’ products from its shelves. The company became saddled with debt and reduced its employees from 50 down to a mere five.

The company is now in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings. However, Watanabe says he’s aiming for a comeback.

“I’m backing away for now. But you can bet I’m going to forge a business model that can stand up to the online mob.”

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Sources

破産した「食用コオロギ」ベンチャー企業の社長が明かす“SNS炎上騒動”の全真相 それでも「リベンジ」を誓うワケ. AERA Dot

ネトウヨはなぜコオロギ食に反対か. 村田基の逆転日記

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