[2] He had previously worked in the United States for three years as an intern for the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, where he first encountered mayonnaise and the Kewpie doll that became his emblem.

[6] Nakashima's businesses are based on "innovation, consistent improvement, and building cooperative frameworks, while fulfilling social responsibilities that ring true even in today's society", according to a Japanese academic journal.

[2] In 1998, the company was sued for US$7 million for trademark infringement by a Japanese businessman who had obtained the rights to the Kewpie doll in Japan.

[8] Amane Nakashima is the current chairman of Kewpie Corp., and is also president of the affiliated Nakashimato Co., a food distribution company.

[11] Comparing Kewpie to American mayonnaise, a food writer at the Los Angeles Times described the flavor: "The initial taste is mellower, creamier, even slightly fruity.

[11] Mari Katsumura of the Michelin-starred restaurant Yugen in Chicago compared Kewpie to U.S. market leader Hellmann's, concluding, "The acid is a bit higher, it's a little sweeter and the umami content is a little stronger, as well".

[10] According to the Los Angeles Times, "It has transcended the plane of mere human consumption to become a cultural touchstone — a passion that can border on obsession.

These plants can produce 72,000 tons of mayonnaise each year, and Kewpie is the dominant brand in several of China's largest cities.