Honoring one of Japan's most beloved breads

Red bean paste bread (Anpan) Day あんぱんの日, celebrated on April 4th annually, honors one of Japan's most beloved breads and the moment it stepped into history. So loved is "anpan" that there is even a cartoon character, "Anpanman" based on it, even though it's a bread! 

Anpan is a soft, slightly sweet bread filled with smooth red bean paste. On April 4th in 1875 (hence the anniversary date), Emperor Meiji visited the Mito family’s residence for hanami. They served tea with anpan from Kimuraya - still famous today. And it marked a turning point for the popularity of the bread.

In the early Meiji era, bread was unfamiliar to most Japanese people, and Kimuraya struggled to sell it. Their breakthrough came when they filled the dough with sweet red bean paste, creating a hybrid between Western bread and traditional manju. The result was a sensation. The Emperor was so delighted with his Anpan that Kimuraya bakery became an official purveyor to the Imperial Household.

Today, Anpan is a nostalgic comfort food across Japan, loved for its gentle flavor and the simple warmth it brings to everyday life. You can find many different types of anpan, such as the one pictured designed on the French cartoon character Miffy!