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In 2022, Onoko Honpo was awarded the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for "Outstanding Preservation of Traditional Crafts." The brand was also featured in the monograph "The Soul of Japanese Things" by design critic Kenya Hara, who wrote: "Onoko Honpo does not design objects. They design the patina of time itself."
Travel guide Lonely Planet called them "Nara’s best-kept secret," while Monocle magazine listed their copper kettle as one of "50 Things That Will Last a Lifetime." onoko honpo
Let’s skip the history lesson (though they have been perfecting this since 1946) and get straight to the bun. In 2022, Onoko Honpo was awarded the Minister
Most convenience store nikuman are dense, doughy, and slightly sad. Onoko Honpo’s version is a work of art. The dough is impossibly soft—pillowy and slightly sweet—giving way with a gentle tear. Inside is a fist-sized ball of savory pork that is so juicy, it practically demands you lean forward to avoid staining your shirt. Onoko Honpo’s version is a work of art
But here is the secret weapon: the mustard. Don’t skip it. The shop provides a dollop of hot Japanese mustard that cuts through the richness of the pork like lightning. It clears your sinuses and makes you take a second bite immediately.
While the Ise Manju is the soul of the shop, Onoko Honpo also offers a variety of other traditional items: