A day for crepes

The 9th, 19th and 29th of every month is Crepe Day クレープの日 in Japan. That's a lot of crepe days! The reason is simple, the number 9 resembles the shape of a rolled crepe, making every “9‑day” a playful reminder to enjoy the treat. The aim is to help more people discover the appeal of crepes and to make them feel like an everyday snack rather than an occasional indulgence. 

Crepes are very popular in Japan and they have gone through boom periods over the years. They have actually been around since the 1970s in Japan. The first crepe stand appeared in Harajuku around the mid-70s. By the early to mid‑1980s, Takeshita Street had become a youth‑culture hub, and crepes fit perfectly into the kawaii, portable, fashion‑accessory‑like food trend. This is when crepes became a Harajuku symbol rather than just a snack.

From the 1990s the crepe style spread across Japan. And every few years it will go through a boom of increased popularity. During the pandemic, I feel was one such period. In Kawagoe City anyway, there was an increased interest in crepes, particularly cute looking crepes that made good social media content! Having several "crepe day" helps keep its popularity alive.