The origins of bread in Japan

There are many different anniversaries and commemorations for bread in Japan. But, today, April 12th annually marks the origins of bread in Japan with Bread Commemorative Day パンの記念日 (Pan no Kinenbi). 

The commemoration was established in 1983 by the Bread Promotion Association, which has long worked to popularize bread culture across Japan. The date traces back to 1842, when a military scholar baked what is considered to be Japan's first "pan", the word Japanese people use for "breaed". It was a hard, portable military ration known as "hyoro pan", essentially an early form of hardtack.

This practical bread marked the beginning of Japan’s relationship with Western-style baking. But bread would not become widely embraced until the Meiji era, when modernization opened the door to new foods. Eventually bread became an everyday staple and many versions of uniquely Japanese bread have emerged over the years.