Coffee Milk Day (Kōhī Gyūnyū no Hi)

What Is Coffee Milk Day?

Every year on April 20th is "Coffee Milk Day." At the request of Moriyama Milk Industry Co., Ltd., the first company in Japan to manufacture and sell coffee milk, it has been certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association. It commemorates April 20th, 1923 (Taisho 12), when bottled coffee milk was first sold at Kozu Station on the Tokaido Line.

The Origin and History of Coffee Milk Day

Coffee milk was developed by the company's founder, Ken Moriyama. While trying to popularize dairy products, Moriyama happened to meet Tajiro Sumita of Sumita Shokai at a Tokyo shop, where Sumita was selling Hawaiian coffee beans. Sumita told him that in Hawaii people sometimes drank coffee with cream. Moriyama took the beans home and mixed coffee with milk half and half; the bitterness and sweetness matched nicely, and on his wife's advice he added sugar to complete the flavor. After its debut at Kozu Station on April 20th, 1923, it gained approval as a Ministry of Railways sales item in 1927 and came to be sold at stations from Aomori in the north to Kagoshima in the south.

• 1918 (Taisho 7): The dairy that became Moriyama Milk Industry is founded in Kanagawa Prefecture.
• April 20th, 1923: Bottled coffee milk goes on sale at Kozu Station.
• 1927 (Showa 2): Approved as a Ministry of Railways sales item and sold at stations nationwide.

Features of the Original Coffee Milk

The coffee milk sold at the time came in a glass bottle and cost 20 sen -- quite expensive at a time when a standard boxed lunch cost 35 sen -- yet it is said to have sold like hotcakes. The biggest hurdle was that milk kept for only one day. Moriyama's brother, a doctor, suggested applying the boiling sterilization used for syringes, which extended its shelf life to a week and made the product possible.

Trivia About Coffee Milk

• A change in naming: Following a revision of labeling rules, beverages not made from 100% raw milk can no longer use the word "milk" (gyūnyū) in their product names. Today's coffee milk is sold under the category of "milk beverage" (nyū-inryō).
• A connection to bathhouse culture: Today, coffee milk is a classic drink to enjoy "after a bath," but originally it was mainly sold at train stations.
• A link to café culture: Coffee milk has been enjoyed alongside the spread of Japan's café culture, and today it's enjoyed in many forms, including café latte and café au lait.

Interesting Trivia About Coffee Milk

• Japan's first coffee milk was born in Kanagawa: Moriyama Milk Industry was founded in 1918 in what is now Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and coffee milk spread nationwide from there.
• The legacy of the glass bottle: While paper cartons and plastic bottles are now standard, retro glass-bottled coffee milk remains popular.
• Regional varieties: Dairy companies across the country produce their own takes on coffee milk, including many region-exclusive versions.

Ideas for Enjoying Coffee Milk Day

• Drink it at a bathhouse or hot spring: Enjoying a bottle of coffee milk in a retro, nostalgic atmosphere is something special.
• Do a taste comparison: Comparing café au lait, café latte, and milk coffee from different brands can lead to new discoveries.
• Learn about its history: Looking into Moriyama Milk Industry's history and Japan's milk beverage culture reveals surprising depth behind a familiar drink.
• Make your own: Experimenting with different ratios of coffee and milk at home is a fun way to find your perfect blend.

April 20th: A Day to Enjoy a Blend of Nostalgia and Discovery

Coffee Milk Day isn't just an anniversary for a beverage -- it's also an opportunity to reflect on Japan's food culture, station-vendor history, and the development of the dairy industry. Behind this drink, loved for over 100 years, lies the passion of craftspeople and the changes of the times.

On April 20th, take a moment to enjoy your favorite coffee milk and savor its history and flavor. The mix of nostalgia and fresh discovery is sure to warm your heart.