Why Japan?

It was never just food. In many countries, fruit is something you toss into a shopping basket. In Japan, it can also be a gift. A flawless melon, a perfect bunch of grapes, a peach without a single blemish — these are given to clients, teachers, and relatives during the summer gift season. The department…

It started with the bento box. In the 1970s, Japanese convenience stores began selling something unusual: hot food. Not just snacks — actual meals. Rice balls. Sandwiches. Steamed buns. Warm enough to eat standing up, cheap enough to buy every day. It turned out this was exactly what Japan needed. Not just a store. In…