Butaman Day

What Is Butaman Day?

November 11th is "Butaman Day" in Japan, celebrating pork-filled steamed buns. The date comes from the way the numeral sequence "11" resembles the shape of a pig's nose.

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 playful wordplay where "11" viewed sideways resembles the nostrils of a pig's snout
• Purpose: to spread butaman's delicious appeal and highlight regional differences in how it's named
• Kansai vs. Kanto: called "butaman" in Kansai and "nikuman" in Kanto, the bun symbolizes regional cultural differences across Japan

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.