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.

Okinawa Braces for Powerful Typhoon No. 18

A very strong Typhoon No. 18 is moving west-northwest over waters south of Japan and is forecast to pass near Minamidaito Island on August 25 before approaching Okinawa and the Amami Islands, raising concerns over prolonged violent winds and heavy rain. As of 9 a.m. on August 24, the typhoon was moving west-northwest at 35 kilometers per hour while maintaining very strong intensity.

Lawson to Cut Onigiri Prices by 10 Yen

Lawson plans to cut prices on its main line of onigiri rice balls by 10 yen from September 29 as falling rice prices begin to feed through to retail costs.

Taiji Boosts Security Against Anti-Whaling Activists

Police have established a temporary police post in the whaling town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, ahead of the September 1 opening of the annual drive hunt for whales and dolphins.

Taiwanese Woman Accused of Pouring Oil on National Treasure

A 39-year-old woman from Taiwan has been arrested on suspicion of pouring an oil-like liquid on the national treasure Buddha Footprint Stone at Yakushiji Temple in Nara in April, police said.

Death Row Inmate Executed for Deadly Pachinko Parlor Fire

Japan executed 58-year-old death row inmate Sunao Takami on August 21 for setting fire to a pachinko parlor in Osaka in 2009, killing five people and injuring 10 others, in the first execution carried out under the Takaichi administration.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Food NEWS

Asian Games Reveals Meals for Athletes

Athletes competing in the Asian Games will be served around 370 dishes ranging from Asian-style curries and chicken dishes to Nagoya specialties such as chicken wings and kishimen noodles, with menus also designed to accommodate religious and dietary requirements.

Cheap Peach Scam Spreads Online

A new type of fraud in which scammers pose as real farmers and advertise seasonal fruit at unusually low prices has been detected in the Kansai region, with police warning consumers to verify sellers through official websites before making purchases.

Shizuoka Reclaims No. 1 Tea-Producing Spot

Shizuoka Prefecture has regained its position as Japan's leading producer of first-flush tea, overtaking Kagoshima Prefecture for the first time in two years as favorable weather and growing demand for matcha helped boost production.

Skylark to Introduce Ghost Restaurants

Skylark Holdings is preparing to introduce "ghost restaurants" that operate without dining areas and specialize in delivery and takeout as Japan moves toward lowering the consumption tax rate on food.

Warming Climate Brings Sweet Potato Farming to Hokkaido

Climate change is reshaping Hokkaido's fishing and agricultural industries, contributing to declining salmon and pink salmon catches while allowing crops such as sweet potatoes, once considered unsuitable for large-scale production in Japan's far north, to take root.

Cat Cafes Actually Originated in Osaka

Japan's cat cafes, now numbering around 300 nationwide, trace their origins to Neko no Jikan in Osaka's Nakazaki-cho district, where founder Yoko Yoshida combined the quiet atmosphere of a manga cafe with the companionship of cats to create what is regarded as the country's first cat cafe in 2004.

A Day Eating Around Kyoto’s Nishiki Market

We explore the streets around Nishiki Market, stroll through Teramachi and Shinkyogoku, take a sweet break, and slow down beside the Kamo River before ending the day with a bowl of ramen that is anything but ordinary.

Budget Water Spinach Regrows From Stems

Water spinach, a heat-resistant leafy vegetable that can cost about half as much as spinach and be regrown at home from leftover stems, is attracting attention in Japan as households look for affordable ways to cope with rising summer vegetable prices.

< 2 3 4 5 >