The Birth of 'UNKO SUPPORT,' a Nutritional Supplement for Dogs—Ending the Taboo Around Poop Talk. On Sale March 29th.

ZOOMIE Inc. (Location: Chigasaki, Kanagawa; Representative: Kana Kobayashi) began sales of the dog nutritional supplement 'UNKO SUPPORT' on March 29, 2026 (Saturday) via its official e-commerce site (https://zoomiedogs.jp) for 3,900 yen (tax included). The product is a 'REAL FOOD SUPPLEMENT' (a nutritional supplement for dogs made solely from food) developed under the supervision of a veterinarian specializing in pet nutrition, containing only five food ingredients—pumpkin, banana, and others—with no preservatives, artificial colors, or flavorings. As the pet supplement market continues to expand (*), the company has introduced the 'REAL FOOD' trend, which is gaining popularity in the West, to the Japanese dog supplement market.

*The global pet supplement market is growing at an average annual rate of 6.9% (Grand View Research, 2025).

Why name the product 'UNKO' (Poop)? There is a fact known to every dog owner: picking up your dog's poop during a walk and checking its condition is, for the owner, a daily health check.

'Conversations between dog owners and reports to family members after a walk are always, "Did they poop today? What was it like?"' says Kana Kobayashi, representative of ZOOMIE Inc. (Brand name: ZOOMIE DOGS). 'Poop isn't something dirty. It is a barometer for your dog's health. If that's the case, let's make that importance the product name itself.' That is the sentiment from which 'UNKO SUPPORT' was born.

Brand Philosophy: 'REAL FOOD SUPPLEMENT' ZOOMIE DOGS' core concept is 'REAL FOOD SUPPLEMENT.' It is the idea of using only natural materials to supplement a dog's diet with the nutrition found in the ingredients themselves. 'In the West, there is growing interest in "REAL FOOD" and "whole foods" as part of a return to basics, but I feel that Japanese food culture is actually a better fit. The concept of conditioning the body through the power of food—like green juice or seasonal ingredients—has long been familiar to Japanese people,' says Kobayashi.

Because Japan has such a developed food culture, we want to offer the option of REAL FOOD to dogs as well—there is no need to change their current food. Simply sprinkling it on their usual meals helps with daily nutritional intake. 'A dog's nose cannot be fooled.' Instead of using artificial flavorings, dogs eat it happily because of the scent and taste of the ingredients themselves. That is the starting point of ZOOMIE DOGS' manufacturing.

Only 5 Ingredients—Designed with Zero Fillers Dog supplements sometimes use 'fillers'—ingredients added to increase the volume of the product or for processing purposes.

'UNKO SUPPORT' uses absolutely no fillers. The ingredients are five: pumpkin, Plantago ovata (psyllium husk), banana, flaxseed, and burdock root. All are ingredients familiar to humans that contain nutrients such as dietary fiber. It contains no preservatives, artificial colors, or flavorings. From pumpkin, which is the primary ingredient, to burdock root (8% of the formula), every ingredient is included in a significant, effective amount. Because of this, we have received many reports of dogs 'finishing every bite' from those who tried it before the official launch.

Supervised by a Veterinarian 'UNKO SUPPORT' was developed under the supervision of Dr. Kazuyoshi Tokumoto, a veterinarian specializing in pet nutrition. In addition to supervising the formula design, he provided advice based on his extensive expertise, ranging from compliance with pet food industry regulations to market entry strategies. We held numerous meetings from the early stages of development and received careful supervision down to the smallest details.

[Image Caption: Regular meeting between veterinarian Kazuyoshi Tokumoto and representative Kana Kobayashi]

Kazuyoshi Tokumoto Veterinarian / Director of the Japanese Society of Pet Nutrition Chairman of the New Qualification Examination System Committee, Japan Pet Food Association Part-time Lecturer, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University Part-time Lecturer, Teikyo University of Science Part-time Lecturer, Yamazaki Gakuen

Representative Comment Kana Kobayashi (CEO, ZOOMIE Inc.) Through the health changes of a cat I lived with for a long time and my life with a rescue dog I adopted later, I became strongly aware of the importance of 'what goes into the mouth.' Perhaps due to external environmental factors like walks, my dog suffered from constant minor ailments, such as slightly loose stools or mild itching, more so than my cat. I wanted to provide something that could support them with as natural ingredients as possible, so I began planning in 2022 and spent about four years bringing 'UNKO SUPPORT' to life. I want the moments of joy—like the 'zoomies' when a dog runs around out of sudden happiness—to last as long as possible. We will continue to carefully select only what is necessary, without adding anything extra.

Commitment to Package Design [Image Caption: The dog illustration was created by Airi Kuroda]

I didn't want a package that looked like a typical health food product that comes to mind when you hear 'dog supplement.' For 'UNKO SUPPORT,' I aimed for a design that blends naturally into a living room. By daring to display the word 'UNKO' prominently while maintaining a sophisticated visual, I expressed the brand's stance of 'not making poop talk a taboo.' The front features an illustration of a dog's back and poop, while the back includes a mechanism where the dog's face appears. It is a design infused with the desire for people to look closely at the ingredients while having a bit of playfulness.

Future Outlook Starting with 'UNKO SUPPORT,' ZOOMIE DOGS plans to develop a series of dog supplements based on the 'REAL FOOD SUPPLEMENT' philosophy. We will continue to create products that support pet owners who love their dogs and make life with their dogs even richer. We are currently developing our next product.

About the Brand Founder Kana Kobayashi. Spent ages 9 to 14 in the Netherlands, growing up in a life where animals and humans coexist naturally. After graduating from Waseda University, she joined the advertising agency Dentsu Inc., where she worked in marketing, public relations, and top executive communication. After being seconded to the company's President's Office and the Secretary's Office at Toyota Motor Corporation, she gained practical experience in positions close to branding and management. Following her own diagnosis with Graves' disease, she began to face what she truly valued. Based on the challenges she felt while living with her dog, Genie, she founded the dog supplement brand 'ZOOMIE DOGS' in 2026.

[Image Caption: With her dog Genie, a former stray who passed the 'International Search and Rescue Dog V-Level' test last year.]

Product Overview Product Name: UNKO SUPPORT Classification: Nutritional supplement for dogs Ingredients: Pumpkin (Domestic/Hokkaido), Plantago ovata (India), Banana (Ecuador), Flaxseed (New Zealand), Burdock root (Domestic) Content: 50g Country of Origin: Japan Price: 3,900 yen (tax included) (Subscription: 3,588 yen (tax included) / 8% OFF)