10-Yen Curry Day

What Is 10-Yen Curry Day?

September 25th is "10-Yen Curry Day" (10円カレーの日, Jūen Karē no Hi). It commemorates September 25, 1973, when Hibiya Matsumoto-rō, a restaurant in Hibiya Park, Tokyo, reopened after being rebuilt following a fire in 1971. To thank people across Japan for their encouragement during the rebuilding, the restaurant served its signature curry for just 10 yen on this day, and that was the beginning of the tradition.

Why September 25th?

In the autumn of 1971, amid violent protests in Hibiya Park against the Okinawa Reversion Agreement, Matsumoto-rō burned down after being hit by a Molotov cocktail. Calls to rebuild it came from all over Japan, and it reopened about two years later, on September 25, 1973. The "10-Yen Curry Charity Sale" began as a commemorative event to express the restaurant's gratitude.

• Autumn 1971: Matsumoto-rō burned down after a Molotov cocktail was thrown during protests in Hibiya Park.
• September 25, 1973: The restaurant reopened and served 10-yen curry as a thank-you event.
• Charity: Sales and donations have gone to support children who lost parents in traffic accidents, disaster relief, and other causes.

What Is 10-Yen Curry?

It is a charity event in which Matsumoto-rō's signature "Haikara Beef Curry" has been served for 10 yen to people who line up on September 25th each year. The restaurant charges 10 yen rather than nothing because giving it away for free would not be treating people as proper guests.

• Servings: Traditionally served to the first 1,500 people.
• Donations: Many people leave a donation in addition to the price.
• Recent format: Since 2023, it is reported to have been held as a "Curry Charity," in which people donate at least an amount matching the number of years since the restaurant's founding.

The History of Matsumoto-rō and 10-Yen Curry

Matsumoto-rō is a long-established Western-style restaurant that opened in 1903, together with Hibiya Park, Japan's first Western-style park. "Eating curry and drinking coffee at Matsumoto-rō" is said to have been a fashionable thing to do among trendy young people of the time.

• Burned down twice: The restaurant was lost in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and again in the 1971 fire.
• 1983: In the year of its 80th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of its rebuilding, actor Hisaya Morishige, who supported the event, served as "president for a day."
• 2003: For its 100th anniversary, the event was held as "100-Yen Curry."

Fun Facts

• A seasonal word: "10-yen curry" is even used as an autumn season word in haiku.
• Disaster relief: In 1995, the proceeds were donated to victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
• Lines every year: Crowds come every year, and the event is often covered in the news.
• The "Neck-Risking Ginkgo": The large ginkgo tree beside Matsumoto-rō was charred in the 1971 fire but is known for sprouting new buds the following spring.

Ways to Enjoy 10-Yen Curry Day

• Visit Matsumoto-rō in Hibiya Park and enjoy the atmosphere of the event.
• Reflect on the spirit of charity and giving back.
• Make beef curry at home and think about the restaurant's history.
• Take a walk in Hibiya Park and enjoy the autumn scenery.

Gratitude and Connection in a 10-Yen Plate of Curry

September 25th's "10-Yen Curry Day" is a day when a restaurant that rose from the ashes has continued to give thanks to those who supported it. The feelings behind a small plate of curry have been passed down for more than half a century.