No Longer Simple Stock Food Japan’s Kanzume Culture

In Europe, Japan, and the United States, the most popular kanzume, or canned good, is arguably tuna. But a wealth of unique canned goods can be found in grocery stores around the world that reflect the food culture of each country and its people. Japan is no exception. It has everything from canned goods with the ingredients used in traditional Japanese food to those that contain dishes made from restaurant reci- pes. In recent years, izakayas ( Japanese bars or pubs) have been serving canned food and premium-quality, expensive canned products. The negative perception of canned products as a poor-tasting shelf stocker is certainly waning. We explored more about this new kanzume culture as it surprises even the local Japanese.

This Izakaya Serves Some 350 Kinds of Canned Food

text by Kei Shimatani

Mr. Kanso, a bar and shop that serves canned food, is expanding across Japan. Sakae store, located in the central district of Nagoya, features some 350 kinds of canned food. A popular dish is Dashi Maki, the bar’s original Japanese-style rolled-egg omelet. Another favorite is Takoyaki, a dish perfectly paired with beer with its rich taste. The classics such as Spam, Kani Miso, corned beef and ajillo are also frequently requested. To add a twist to the dishes, Mr. Kanso recommends topping Kani Miso with Korean seaweed and cream cheese or adding mayonnaise and wasabi to corned beef. Optional services are available to warm up your selected can or make hot sand- wiches and pastas with kanzume. Some rare dishes include Stellar’s Sea Lion Yamatoni (game meat flavored with a lot of soy sauce, sugar and other flavors) and Seal Yamatoni. There’s even a Sea Urchin Kanzume that costs 17,000 yen ($122). If you want to try a simple, traditional Japanese dish, Buri Daikon (stewed yellowtail and daikon radish) is perfect. The restaurant has a cozy, homey atmosphere. The shop owner wants to “make a home where customers can come back anytime.” You can enjoy the two aspects of Japanese culture, canned food and izakaya ( Japanese bar serving food and snacks), at the same time at Mr. Kanso.

Mr. Kanso Sakae shop Hours/ 19:00~26:00 (Tues, Wed & Thurs) 19:00 to midnight (Fri & Sat) Closed/ Sun, Mon Address/ 3-2-31 Room B, 3rd floor, Noa Building Sakae, Nagoya, Aichi http://www.cleanbrothers.net/kanso/shoplist_sakae.html

tj

The complete article can be found in Issue #282 of the Tokyo Journal.