Butaman Day

What Is Butaman Day?

November 11th is "Butaman Day" in Japan, celebrating pork-filled steamed buns. A pig's snout, with its two nostrils, looks like "(11)," so two of them side by side make 11/11. The day was established in 2011 by the KOBE Butaman Summit Executive Committee to promote the butaman of Kobe, said to be where butaman in Japan began. It is registered with the Japan Anniversary Association under the name "Butaman no Hi" (豚饅の日).

A Playful Wordplay Born From the Shape of Numbers

Butaman is a type of Chinese-style steamed bun filled with pork, known in the Kansai region as "butaman" rather than "nikuman" (meat bun), as it's more commonly called in Kanto.

• Origin: a pig's snout is likened to "(11)," and two of them make November 11 -- a visual likeness rather than a pun
• Purpose: to promote the butaman of Kobe, said to be the birthplace of butaman in Japan
• Kansai vs. Kanto: called "butaman" in Kansai and "nikuman" in Kanto, the bun symbolizes regional cultural differences across Japan

Kobe's Nankinmachi and the "KOBE Butaman Summit"

At the first KOBE Butaman Summit in November 2011, famous shops -- including Roshoki in Nankinmachi, said to be the first shop in Japan to sell butaman, as well as Shikoro in Motomachi and Ikkanro in Sannomiya -- showed off original creations. Comparing butaman from Kobe's well-known shops is one way to enjoy the day.

A Piping Hot Treat Craved in the Cold Season

Easily available at convenience stores and specialty shops, butaman is a winter comfort food whose demand rises as temperatures begin to drop around November.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Pick up a butaman from a convenience store or specialty shop
• Compare Kansai-style and Kanto-style versions
• Try making butaman at home
• Look into the regional difference between "butaman" and "nikuman"

A Comforting Taste That Rises With the Steam

The warmth of biting into a butaman on a cold day soothes not just the body, but the heart too. November 11th is a day to savor butaman's appeal once again.