Chidori-ya Honke, a confectionery manufacturer famous for its Chidori manju, submitted an application for civil rehabilitation to the Fukuoka District Court on February 27, as reported by the Tokyo Shoko Research. The company, which is based in Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture and led by President Mariko Harada, has accumulated debts totaling approximately 2.27 billion yen, including three affiliated companies. The financial strain has arisen largely due to increased borrowing during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely impacted its cash flow.

Despite the application for civil rehabilitation, Chidori-ya Honke plans to maintain its business operations normally. This situation is unlikely to affect two other related companies, Chidori-ya Soke in Nishinomiya and Chidori Manju Sohonke in Fukuoka City, which continue their activities without disruption. Chidori-ya Honke intends to receive support from Chidori-ya Soke while navigating its financial recovery and continuing to serve customers.

Chidori-ya's history traces back to 1630 in Saga when it was founded as Matsugetsudo. It opened its doors in Iizuka City in 1927 and expanded to Fukuoka City after World War II, where its flagship products, Chidori manju and Tirolian, gained popularity. Following this, separate companies were established by the children of the management. However, disputes have arisen regarding product names, leading to legal action from Chidori Manju Sohonke against the other two companies, resulting in a settlement that prompted Chidori-ya Honke to rename their product to 'Yodeln' for continued sale.