It’s surprising just how many bread shops there are in Japan. Yokohama is considered the birthplace of European bread in Japan with the first bread shop established in 1861 near Nihon-ōdōri street in the old foreigners settlement. Small, Japanese, family-owned bread shops baking their own unique style of breads later flourished during the 1920s and 30s. Along the old shopping street near Higashi-Hakuraku Station, you may stumble upon Rosenborg, one of those unique, early bread shops still in existence today.
Founded by the Takasaki family in 1937 and originally located near Tanmachi Station, the bakery was first named “Napoleon Bakery”. After it was destroyed in air raids during WWI, the family moved it to its current location, reopening as Takasaki Bread. The second-generation owner gave it its current name following a visit to the Danish Rosenborg Castle. The owner today is 3rd-generation Kento Takasaki. While working as a salaryman, Takasaki’s passion for his grandfather’s bread shop ignited and he began training to take over the family business. One important aspect of his training was maintaining the original recipes that were passed down from generation to generation. Equally important, he also actively tweaks the use of certain ingredients, such as baking flour, according to current fermentation methods. One unique feature of the bakery is the Mt. Fuji lava kiln–an impressive brick structure and the focal point of the store. The kiln was made from lava that once flowed from Mt. Fuji and is actually utilized during normal baking. Unlike a conventional oven, bread baked in the lava kiln is moist on the inside with a crisp texture outside. Melon bread and curry bread are popular with children returning from kindergarten in the neighborhood, and soft bread such as anpan is popular with elderly customers. All of these breads are reasonably priced and easy to eat–a great reason to stop by everyday.
When asked about his thoughts on the future, Takasaki replies spiritedly, “We have gained the trust of local customers for many generations and we will continue to take pride in making this store a happy place for them in the future.”