10-Yen Curry Day

What Is 10-Yen Curry Day?

Every September 25th is "10-Yen Curry Day" (10円カレーの日, Jūen Karē no Hi) in Japan. On September 25, 1971, the Matsumoto-rō restaurant (松本楼) in Hibiya Park, Tokyo was destroyed by arson during left-wing protests. When the restaurant reopened on September 25, 1973 — exactly two years later — it commemorated the occasion by selling curry rice for just 10 yen (about $0.035 at the time), with all proceeds donated to charity. This "10-yen curry" event became an annual tradition that the restaurant continues to this day, drawing enormous queues of loyal customers who participate in the charity event.

Matsumoto-rō: A Tokyo Institution

The Matsumoto-rō (松本楼) in Hibiya Park has been one of Tokyo's most beloved restaurants since its founding in 1903. Located in the middle of Hibiya Park — Tokyo's first Western-style public park — the restaurant is associated with over a century of Tokyo's history: political meetings, literary lunches, celebrity diners, and the ordinary pleasure of a park-side meal. Its restoration after the 1971 arson fire and the establishment of the 10-yen curry tradition transformed a tragedy into an enduring act of community and charity that has made the restaurant even more beloved.

Curry in Japanese Life

Japanese curry (カレーライス, karē raisu) is one of Japan's most beloved comfort foods — a thick, mildly spiced sauce typically containing meat and root vegetables, served over rice. Introduced from India via Britain in the Meiji era, Japanese curry evolved into a distinctive style — milder, sweeter, and thicker than its South Asian original — that is now one of Japan's most frequently eaten dishes. Japanese children reliably rank curry among their favorite foods, and major curry brands (S&B, House Vermont Curry) are household names.

Charity Through Food

The 10-yen curry event's combination of extraordinarily affordable food with charitable giving has made it one of Japan's most charming annual charity traditions. The long queues of Tokyo residents willing to wait hours for a 10-yen bowl of curry reflect both the restaurant's special place in Tokyo's affections and the appeal of participating in a tradition that connects individual pleasure with community good.

Fun Facts

• Hibiya Park: Hibiya Park (日比谷公園) — established in 1903 and home to Matsumoto-rō — was Japan's first Western-style urban park, designed by landscape architect Seiroku Honda. It remains one of central Tokyo's beloved green spaces, steps from government offices and the Imperial Palace grounds.
• Curry roux: Japanese home cooking uses pre-made curry roux blocks (カレールウ, karē rūu) — solidified blocks of spiced curry sauce that dissolve in cooking liquid to create curry sauce easily. This product, pioneered by companies like House Foods and S&B, made Japanese curry accessible to home cooks and standardized the Japanese curry flavor profile.