Anpan: The Much-Loved Japanese Bread That Became a National Hero
It has been a symbol of Japan’s Westernisation for 150 years
Anpan is one of the most popular breads in Japan. You can find it in every supermarket, convenience store, and bakery.
An, also known as Anko, is a sweet Adzuki bean paste often used in traditional Japanese confectionery. Pan means Western bread. As the name shows, Anpan hides the Japanese sweet Anko in the Western bread, and this unexpected combination often confuses non-Japanese people.
How did this unusual east-west fusion happen?
Kimuraya: The Bakery That Created The Anpan
Kimuraya is the bakery that created Anpan in 1874. Today, its main shop, with a cafe and two restaurants on the upper floors, proudly stands on the main street in Ginza. Located in the poshest district of Tokyo, it sells an Anpan for just 200 yen (US$ 1.30), along with many other types of freshly baked bread.
Although this area has many foreign tourists, most of the customers in Kimuraya are Japanese, and many are excited to buy in bulk. Of course, the main reason for this popularity is the outstanding quality of its Anpan, but that is not all.