The Era of Donut Wars in Japan

May 15, 2025 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Japan’s growing donut market has entered a new phase with the opening of popular American chain Randy’s Donuts’ first store in Daikanyama, Shibuya, marking its debut with handmade offerings and an iconic oversized donut monument as the 'donut Sengoku era' intensifies.

Originally founded in Los Angeles in 1952, Randy’s Donuts has appeared in numerous films and television shows. The Tokyo location features more than 40 varieties of donuts, all made fresh in-store daily, with up to 1,000 donuts on display. The menu includes colorful options such as the “Chocolate Candy Raised” priced at 550 yen, and a Japan-exclusive “Limited LA Blue Custard Cream Set” of 12 donuts for 5,500 yen, inspired by the vibrant Los Angeles sky and available until June 15th.

The store’s bestseller is the “Glazed Raised” donut, priced at 360 yen, which has retained its original light and fluffy recipe since the company’s founding. Reflecting its American roots, Randy’s donuts are notably large: the “Texas Glazed” has a diameter of about 16 cm, compared to the regular “Glazed Raised” at 11 cm. A 4-meter-wide version of the brand’s iconic donut-shaped monument has also been installed outside the new Tokyo store, echoing the 10-meter version that serves as a landmark at its Los Angeles flagship.

Commenting on the expansion, CEO Mark Kelegian said, “Japan’s donut market is showing significant growth, and expanding into Tokyo is a very important step.” The domestic market is projected to reach around 150 billion yen in 2025—about 1.5 times its size five years ago.

While donuts are often associated with the United States, Japanese-style donuts have evolved to suit local tastes and are now gaining global recognition. After Krispy Kreme first entered Japan in 2006, its overly sweet flavors drew criticism, and sales declined. But since launching products tailored to Japanese preferences in 2016, the brand has rebounded and now operates 83 stores nationwide as of May 14th, with products widely available in supermarkets and convenience stores.

Japanese brands are also making inroads abroad. The homegrown “I’m donut?” chain, which opened its first store in Nakameguro three years ago, now operates six locations in Japan and opened its first overseas shop in New York this April, where it is already proving popular.

Source: TBS

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