Over Half Freeze Plain Rice, But Only 7% Freeze Onigiri. Meanwhile, "Frozen Onigiri" Searches Soar 132% Year-on-Year, Gaining Attention as a Time-Saving "Stocking Method" for Busy Daily Lives.

April 30, 2026

According to a survey conducted by Nadia Co., Ltd., which operates the cooking media "Nadia," while the demand for "onigiri" increases during the spring new lifestyle and leisure season, searches for "frozen onigiri" have surged by 132% year-on-year. However, the habit of stocking frozen onigiri at home remains low at 7.3%, revealing a gap between potential demand and actual behavior.

調査NQ 42/100出典：PR Times

📋 Article Processing Timeline

📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 20:30
🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 12:01
🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 12:29 (28 min after Collected)

Nadia Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director Yoshiyuki Katsuragi), which operates the cooking media "Nadia" (URL: https://oceans-nadia.com/), conducted a survey (*1) on "onigiri," which sees increased demand in spring. (*1) Survey period: March 27, 2026 - April 2, 2026 / Number of respondents: 1,125 Nadia users (varies by question) / Survey institution: In-house survey / Target: Nadia registered users / Survey method: Recruitment for survey responses via email newsletter. Increased Demand for "Onigiri" in Spring During New Lifestyles and Leisure Seasons Searches for "onigiri" on Nadia (*2) typically reach their annual peak around March to May in spring. During this period, which coincides with bento-making for new lifestyles and the leisure season, onigiri is a highly demanded menu item. Furthermore, looking at search keyword trends, in addition to "variety of fillings," "yakionigiri" (grilled onigiri) and "nikumaki onigiri" (meat-wrapped onigiri) are also gaining popularity as "main dishes and side dishes" that offer a satisfying meal on their own. (*2) Search data within the Nadia app. "Freezing" is the current focus. Searches surge 132% year-on-year! Amidst the rising demand for onigiri in spring, "freezing" is a particularly noteworthy keyword. Searches for "frozen x onigiri" within Nadia increased by 132% from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2025. Interest in the style of "making in bulk and freezing" is rapidly growing, beyond just making them. Recently, major convenience store chains have also started full-scale national deployment of "frozen onigiri." Frozen onigiri has a long shelf life, reduces distribution costs, minimizes food loss, and is attractive because it is more affordable than regular onigiri. Its convenience, allowing quick consumption simply by heating, perfectly matches the recent demand for time performance (Time-PA), and it is steadily gaining attention as a stock item for home use. Despite rising interest, only 7.3% practice it at home. While interest in "frozen onigiri" is spreading, the reality is that it has not yet become a daily "stocking habit" in households. When asked about items regularly prepared in advance, "plain white rice (portion-controlled)" accounted for over half at 54.1%, while "onigiri" remained at a mere 7.3%. Even if people stock frozen rice, the practice of making onigiri to simplify meal preparation does not seem to be widely habitual yet. Frozen Onigiri: A savior for "weekday breakfast" and "forgotten to cook rice." When asked "in what situations would you like to utilize frozen onigiri stock in your freezer?", the top three were almost equally popular: "weekday breakfast (34.8%)", "forgotten to buy/cook rice (33.4%)", and "holiday lunch (33.3%)". There are high expectations for it to resolve small daily inconveniences and time-related stress, such as busy weekday mornings with no time to prepare a proper breakfast, troublesome moments when one forgets to cook rice, or wanting to take a break from cooking on holiday lunches. Make in bulk and freeze! "Frozen Onigiri Stock" to make mornings easier. As the convenience of frozen onigiri gains attention, Nadia introduces recommended onigiri recipes that are quick to make and nutritionally balanced. If you make them in bulk and freeze them, you can easily enjoy a nutritious meal with just a microwave. Adding plenty of tuna and roasted sesame seeds makes it feel like a treat! Never before seen☆ [Exquisite Tuna Mayo Yakionigiri] by Aonie-na-san https://oceans-nadia.com/user/638366/recipe/430184 Nutritious onigiri with edamame and cheese! Adding sesame oil prevents it from drying out even when cold◎ Protein-rich [Edamame Cheese Konbu Onigiri] by Suzume (Yukie Kasahara)-san https://oceans-nadia.com/user/654099/recipe/457839 Onigiri that provides a good amount of protein♪ Popular with kids too◎ Nutritious in one! Also good for frozen stock◎ [Salmon & Egg Onigiri] by Haru Mama-san https://oceans-nadia.com/user/833638/recipe/501264 Tarako (cod roe) is heated in the microwave, so it's safe for bento boxes! Western-style finish with butter and coarsely ground pepper. [Tarako Corn Butter Onigiri] Addictively delicious by Suzume (Yukie Kasahara)-san https://oceans-nadia.com/user/654099/recipe/457842 If you have any other data or recipes of interest, please feel free to contact the Nadia editorial department.

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