Okonomiyaki

Although it appeared in various forms and under different names throughout Japan’s history, the first known use of the word “okonomiyaki” was at a shop in Osaka in the 1930s. After the Great Kantō earthquake of 1923, when people lacked basic amenities, cooking these crêpes became a popular pastime. Following World War II, during a period of rice shortage, okonomiyaki emerged as an inexpensive and filling dish enjoyed by people of all ages, often topped with savoury ingredients such as seafood and vegetables. This “okonomiyaki boom” led to the widespread commercial availability of household equipment and ingredients for preparing the dish.