Behind the Counter at a Japanese Bakery with 80-Year-Old Grandmas

Nov 30, 2025 | News On Japan

Nov 30, 2025 (Paolo fromTOKYO) - This is Mochiyori PAN Samba, a small bakery in Oshiage near the Tokyo Skytree that creates its own Japanese deli style baked bread. What makes it special is that it is helped run by three 80 year old grandmas who are at the heart of the shop.

Akiko san opened the bakery three years ago after dreaming about it for a long time. She named it Samba, with sam meaning three and ba meaning grandmas, as a way to honor the women who support her every day. Her love for baking started with a single bagel gifted from a friend. It was so good that she enrolled in a baking class at that same shop while still working at an interior construction company. One lesson led to another, and she spent the next decade studying different techniques and styles, slowly building the skills that shaped her craft.

The bakery also grew from a family need. When her family considered selling the building, her aunt would have had to move away. Akiko realized she could renovate part of the space into a home for her aunt and turn the rest into a bakery. It allowed her aunt to stay in the neighborhood she loves while giving Akiko a chance to pursue her dream and support her family at the same time.

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