Hayashi Rice Day (Hayashi no Hi)

What Is Hayashi Rice Day?

September 8th is "Hayashi Rice Day" (Hayashi no Hi) in Japan. It was established by Maruzen Junkudo Bookstores Co., Ltd., known for the Maruzen bookstores, and registered with the Japan Anniversary Association in 2016. The date is the birthday—September 8, 1837—of Yuteki Hayashi (written 早矢仕有的), founder of the company's predecessor Maruzen, who is said by some to have created hayashi rice. The aim is to share the food culture of hayashi rice with more people.

Why Is September 8th "Hayashi Rice Day"?

The star of this day is Yuteki Hayashi, the founder of Maruzen.

• Founder of Maruzen: Hayashi was also a physician who studied under Yukichi Fukuzawa, and he founded Maruzen in the early Meiji era.
• "Mr. Hayashi's rice": Because Hayashi had many foreign friends and was familiar with Western cooking, he is said to have served guests a stew of whatever meat and vegetables he had, along with rice. According to a story in the 1980 Hundred-Year History of Maruzen, this came to be called "Mr. Hayashi's rice" and eventually appeared on restaurant menus as "hayashi rice."
• Maruzen's hayashi rice: From 1954 the company served "Maruzen Hayashi Rice" at the rooftop restaurant of its Nihonbashi store, and it launched a canned version in 1989 and a retort-pouch version in 2016.

What Is Hayashi Rice?

Hayashi rice is a Western-style Japanese dish of thinly sliced beef and onions simmered in demi-glace sauce and served over rice. In some regions pork is used instead of beef, or mushrooms and other ingredients are added. Solid roux blocks and ready-to-heat pouches are widely sold.

• A Meiji-era Western-style dish: It is said to have emerged from the Western-style food culture of the Meiji era.
• Demi-glace sauce: Known for its rich depth and sweetness.
• Simple ingredients: Beef and onions are the basics, and every household can make its own version.

The Origin of the Name "Hayashi Rice"

There are several theories about where the name comes from, and none is certain.

• The Yuteki Hayashi theory: The name comes from Maruzen's founder, Yuteki Hayashi.
• The hashed beef theory: English names such as "hashed beef with rice" became "hasshi rice" or "haishi rice," which later shifted to "hayashi rice." Some restaurants still call it "haishi rice."
• The "hayasu" theory: A linguist suggested that association with the old word hayasu, meaning "to chop finely," helped the name become "hayashi."

Interesting Facts About Hayashi Rice Day

• A symbol of yōshoku: Like curry rice, it is a Western-style dish that spread in its own way in Japan.
• How the name stuck: Cookbooks from the Taishō to Shōwa eras increasingly used the name "hayashi rice," while "hashed beef" gradually fell out of use.
• Books and hayashi rice: Hayashi rice as a bookstore's signature dish is a story unique to Maruzen.
• Popular with kids: Often sweetly seasoned, it is loved by all ages.

Tips for Enjoying Hayashi Rice Day

• Make hayashi rice at home and try your own twist on the ingredients and seasoning.
• Compare different retort-pouch versions to find your favorite.
• Learn about the history of yōshoku and how Japan's unique food culture developed.
• Stop by a bookstore and have hayashi rice for lunch.

The Rich Aroma of Demi-Glace Sauce: A Western-Style "Taste of Japan"

Hayashi Rice Day on September 8th is a day to rediscover the appeal of hayashi rice, enjoyed both at home and when eating out. As you savor the rich sauce with rice, take a moment to think about Japan's Western-style food culture.