May Event: 'National Bread Expo' to be held at TSUTAYA stores in Tochigi, Saitama, Nagano, Gifu! 'Snack Expo' to appear in Chiba!
Culture Convenience Club (CX) is holding the 'National Bread Expo,' an event gathering local specialty breads from across Japan, at various locations. In May 2026, it will be held sequentially from May 20th (Wednesday) at "Big One TSUTAYA Sakura Store" (Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture), "TSUTAYA Sakado Hachiman Store" (Sakado City, Saitama Prefecture), "TSUTAYA Higashimatsumoto Store" (Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture), and "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Colorful Town Gifu Store" (Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture). Additionally, the 'Snack Expo,' an event featuring local specialty snacks from across Japan, will be held at "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Inzai Big Hop" (Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture) from May 13th (Wednesday).
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 19:00
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Culture Convenience Club (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Shinichiro Kamaura; hereinafter "CX") is holding the 'National Bread Expo,' an event gathering local specialty breads from across Japan, at various locations. In May 2026, it will be held sequentially from May 20th (Wednesday) at "Big One TSUTAYA Sakura Store" (Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture), "TSUTAYA Sakado Hachiman Store" (Sakado City, Saitama Prefecture), "TSUTAYA Higashimatsumoto Store" (Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture), and "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Colorful Town Gifu Store" (Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture).
Additionally, the 'Snack Expo,' an event featuring local specialty snacks from across Japan, will be held at "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Inzai Big Hop" (Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture) from May 13th (Wednesday).
■ 'National Bread Expo'
The 'National Bread Expo' is an event where popular local specialty breads from Hokkaido to Kyushu and Okinawa gather. Approximately 130 types of local breads, loved by locals for many years and only available in their respective regions, including breads made with local specialties and those with charming retro packaging, will be showcased.
Previously, it has been held sequentially at TSUTAYA and TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE locations nationwide, with each store experiencing great success and selling out daily, receiving high praise from many customers.
■ TOP 6 "Hard-to-find Local Specialty Breads"
*Some products may not be available depending on the event area.
1st Place: Milk Bread - Trattoria Forza (Nagano Prefecture)
Nagano Prefecture's soul food. Soft and fluffy dough filled with plenty of milk cream. Its light texture makes it easy to eat a lot despite its size.
2nd Place: Jaripan - Mikael-do (Miyazaki Prefecture)
A local bread beloved by Miyazaki citizens, revived after the original business closed due to a lack of successors. The crunchy texture comes from the granulated sugar mixed into the butter cream.
3rd Place: Cream Box - Mickey Chain (Fukushima Prefecture)
A phantom popular local bread outside the prefecture. The rich cream blended with extra condensed milk and the chewy white bread create an exquisite combination.
4th Place: Harris-san's Milk Anpan - Hirai Seika (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Awarded 1st place in the ranking of local breads people want to see sold nationwide. The homemade strained bean paste and soft butter are an excellent match, and the moist texture of the milk-kneaded bread dough is also appealing.
5th Place: Ultimate Salt Butter Melon Pan - Guruguru (Ibaraki Prefecture)
Grand Prix winner at "Pan no Fes Award 2022," one of Japan's largest bread events. The crispy cookie dough and homemade salt butter make this melon pan irresistible.
6th Place: Sasa Dango Pan - Kotake Seika (Niigata Prefecture)
Joetsu's specialty "Sasa Dango Pan" is a product where a whole Sasa Dango (dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves) is encased in bread. The chewy bread and Sasa Dango are a good match, offering the refreshing aroma of mugwort and moderately sweet red bean paste.
★ Hall of Fame: Anshoku (Red Bean Paste Bread) - Tommys (Hyogo Prefecture)
This is the original local specialty bread. The sweetness of the red bean paste and the saltiness of the butter match perfectly, and its maximum characteristic is its deliciousness, being sweet and heavy.
*Survey by National Bread Expo buyer (ranked independently based on procurement difficulty for this event)
■ Newly Introduced Local Specialty Breads
Oyaki Nozawana Mayo - Trattoria Forza (Nagano Prefecture)
A savory bread inspired by "Oyaki," a representative local dish of Nagano Prefecture.
The combination of Nozawana (pickled greens) and mayonnaise is excellent, with the fragrant sesame adding an accent, creating a somewhat nostalgic taste.
What is the 'National Bread Expo'?
Everyone loves bread. But did you know that there are various unique local specialty breads across Japan?
We want everyone nationwide to taste these local breads, which are loved by locals for many years and only available in their respective regions, including breads made with local specialties and those with charming retro packaging. This project started with that desire. We hope it will be an opportunity to savor bread while also contemplating the stories and regional characteristics behind them.
■ 'Snack Expo'
The 'Snack Expo' is a sister event to the highly popular "National Bread Expo," gathering over 160 types of popular local specialty snacks from all 47 prefectures across Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu and Okinawa in the south. Each snack can be purchased individually, so you can freely enjoy your favorites. Please take this opportunity to visit the 'Snack Expo,' an event with plenty to see and taste.
■ Seasonal Recommended Snacks
Yomogi no Mame Daifuku (Mugwort Bean Daifuku) - Kamejirushi Seika (Ibaraki Prefecture)
Sweet red bean paste made from Tokachi-grown adzuki beans is wrapped in soft mochi kneaded with Hokkaido-grown green peas and carefully hand-picked Ibaraki-grown mugwort. Its rich aroma and deep flavor of mugwort, and the refreshing aftertaste, are its charm.
■ Limited Quantity "Daily Special Snacks" - Encounters only on that day
Gorogoro Mame Daifuku (Chunky Bean Daifuku) - Kamejirushi Seika (Ibaraki Prefecture) *From the very popular snacks
Additionally, the 'Snack Expo,' an event featuring local specialty snacks from across Japan, will be held at "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Inzai Big Hop" (Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture) from May 13th (Wednesday).
■ 'National Bread Expo'
The 'National Bread Expo' is an event where popular local specialty breads from Hokkaido to Kyushu and Okinawa gather. Approximately 130 types of local breads, loved by locals for many years and only available in their respective regions, including breads made with local specialties and those with charming retro packaging, will be showcased.
Previously, it has been held sequentially at TSUTAYA and TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE locations nationwide, with each store experiencing great success and selling out daily, receiving high praise from many customers.
■ TOP 6 "Hard-to-find Local Specialty Breads"
*Some products may not be available depending on the event area.
1st Place: Milk Bread - Trattoria Forza (Nagano Prefecture)
Nagano Prefecture's soul food. Soft and fluffy dough filled with plenty of milk cream. Its light texture makes it easy to eat a lot despite its size.
2nd Place: Jaripan - Mikael-do (Miyazaki Prefecture)
A local bread beloved by Miyazaki citizens, revived after the original business closed due to a lack of successors. The crunchy texture comes from the granulated sugar mixed into the butter cream.
3rd Place: Cream Box - Mickey Chain (Fukushima Prefecture)
A phantom popular local bread outside the prefecture. The rich cream blended with extra condensed milk and the chewy white bread create an exquisite combination.
4th Place: Harris-san's Milk Anpan - Hirai Seika (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Awarded 1st place in the ranking of local breads people want to see sold nationwide. The homemade strained bean paste and soft butter are an excellent match, and the moist texture of the milk-kneaded bread dough is also appealing.
5th Place: Ultimate Salt Butter Melon Pan - Guruguru (Ibaraki Prefecture)
Grand Prix winner at "Pan no Fes Award 2022," one of Japan's largest bread events. The crispy cookie dough and homemade salt butter make this melon pan irresistible.
6th Place: Sasa Dango Pan - Kotake Seika (Niigata Prefecture)
Joetsu's specialty "Sasa Dango Pan" is a product where a whole Sasa Dango (dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves) is encased in bread. The chewy bread and Sasa Dango are a good match, offering the refreshing aroma of mugwort and moderately sweet red bean paste.
★ Hall of Fame: Anshoku (Red Bean Paste Bread) - Tommys (Hyogo Prefecture)
This is the original local specialty bread. The sweetness of the red bean paste and the saltiness of the butter match perfectly, and its maximum characteristic is its deliciousness, being sweet and heavy.
*Survey by National Bread Expo buyer (ranked independently based on procurement difficulty for this event)
■ Newly Introduced Local Specialty Breads
Oyaki Nozawana Mayo - Trattoria Forza (Nagano Prefecture)
A savory bread inspired by "Oyaki," a representative local dish of Nagano Prefecture.
The combination of Nozawana (pickled greens) and mayonnaise is excellent, with the fragrant sesame adding an accent, creating a somewhat nostalgic taste.
What is the 'National Bread Expo'?
Everyone loves bread. But did you know that there are various unique local specialty breads across Japan?
We want everyone nationwide to taste these local breads, which are loved by locals for many years and only available in their respective regions, including breads made with local specialties and those with charming retro packaging. This project started with that desire. We hope it will be an opportunity to savor bread while also contemplating the stories and regional characteristics behind them.
■ 'Snack Expo'
The 'Snack Expo' is a sister event to the highly popular "National Bread Expo," gathering over 160 types of popular local specialty snacks from all 47 prefectures across Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu and Okinawa in the south. Each snack can be purchased individually, so you can freely enjoy your favorites. Please take this opportunity to visit the 'Snack Expo,' an event with plenty to see and taste.
■ Seasonal Recommended Snacks
Yomogi no Mame Daifuku (Mugwort Bean Daifuku) - Kamejirushi Seika (Ibaraki Prefecture)
Sweet red bean paste made from Tokachi-grown adzuki beans is wrapped in soft mochi kneaded with Hokkaido-grown green peas and carefully hand-picked Ibaraki-grown mugwort. Its rich aroma and deep flavor of mugwort, and the refreshing aftertaste, are its charm.
■ Limited Quantity "Daily Special Snacks" - Encounters only on that day
Gorogoro Mame Daifuku (Chunky Bean Daifuku) - Kamejirushi Seika (Ibaraki Prefecture) *From the very popular snacks