Founder Mika Shino moved to the United States as a child and later worked across countries, including with UNESCO. That exposure to global food cultures eventually led her back to her own Japanese heritage when she began raising children. She wanted them to feel pride in their Asian roots—and wanted a chewy snack without animal gelatin, artificial flavors, chemical stabilizers, or sugar substitutes. What began as homemade treats for her children and their friends became Issei in 2022. Shino’s training at Le Cordon Bleu and her curiosity across food, art, and philosophy helped shape a brand built around inclusion, joy, and cultural continuity.