Do the Japanese eat bread?
Robert Miller
Updated on April 12, 2026
The most ubiquitous type of bread in Japan is the white and pillowy square-shaped bread called shokupan, which simply means “eating bread.” Made of white flour, yeast, milk or milk powder, butter, salt and sugar, shokupan is both loved and taken for granted by most.
Why do Japanese eat bread for breakfast?
Bread is so popular because it is convenient to eat, fast, and easy to make. For the rice based breakfast goers onigiri (Japanese rice ball) is typically the go to. Otherwise, a bowl of rice with side dishes would be the next choice. 35.9% of the respondents said they would have a soup like miso alongside the rice.Is bread big in Japan?
However, Japanese bread is quite pricey, and the nation still produced only 1.2 million tons of bread compared to 8 million tons of rice in 2015—so rice isn't going anywhere. But bread is increasingly a part of the national diet, enjoying particular popularity in the Kansai area.Does Japan have good bread?
Anpan - The Hero of Japanese BreadAnpan quickly caught on and helped bread gain the popularity it has today. Kimuraya still exists in Tokyo and is a great place to try a large variety of anko-filled bread. Not only is anpan the hero of the bread world in Japan but it also inspired a comic hero.
What do Japanese not eat?
10 Foods Not to Serve at a Japanese Dinner Party
- Coriander (Cilantro) Personally, I love coriander. ...
- Blue Cheese. I guess I can't blame them for this one seeing as it's an acquired taste for all. ...
- Rice Pudding. Rice is the staple Japanese food. ...
- Spicy Food. ...
- Overly Sugared Foods. ...
- Brown Rice. ...
- Deer Meat. ...
- Hard Bread.