The origins of Hi-Chew began in Japan when Taichiro Morinaga sought to create an edible kind of chewing gum that could be swallowed because of the Japanese cultural taboo against taking food out of one’s mouth. Morinaga was able to create his new candy called Chewlets in 1931. Morinaga, whose business was hampered immensely by World War II, had to rebuild his company from scratch, and Chewlets were reintroduced in the form of Hi-Chews, as they are known today.