At around 10 a.m. today, July 25, we got a tip that the bakery “Friand Main Store” under the Hankyu elevated tracks was absolutely packed, so we hurried over to check it out〜
(Tip from Maakun)
What’s going on?! Did something happen?!
Here it is on the map↓
The address is 3-1 Wakamatsu-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo.
Mostly women. They’re taking photos with their phones〜
There’s also an office just a little to the side of Friand Main Store, and people were gathered there too〜. Let’s take a quick peek〜.
Yep, lots of women. Is this a concert venue or what?
The person in the back is…
Friand’s Chef Yoshinori Taniguchi〜〜〜! But why are there so many people? Now we’re curious〜〜
Chef Taniguchi moved to the front of the shop. The area around him erupted into excitement
He’s a superstar!
When Chef Taniguchi went inside the shop, it turned into a packed-train situation
We spotted a video camera!! I see. It’s the media
But can you tell the atmosphere is a little different?
The name written on this microphone… It looks like they’re a TV crew from Taiwan〜
In 2021, Chef Taniguchi competed as a representative of Japan in the world bread competition, the “8th Mondial du Pain International Competition,” where Team Japan won.
Simply put, it’s the world’s No. 1 bread. Maybe that’s why they came from Taiwan this time.
The logo hanging from their necks. You might all recognize it.
hankyu BAKERY
It says 全聯阪急麺包〜. That’s the Hankyu logo
Quoted from 自有品牌 | 來全聯 方便又省錢
全聯阪急麺包 is(I can’t read anything except Hankyu lol) a Taiwanese Hankyu Bakery created through a partnership in 2020 between Hankyu Bakery and Taiwanese supermarket giant PX Mart(全聯福利中心). (We’ll call it Taiwan’s Hankyu Bakery from here on.)
Since January 2024, Chef Taniguchi has been involved with Taiwan’s Hankyu Bakery as an advisor. Apparently, Chef Taniguchi’s photo is displayed in supermarkets at 1,200 locations across Taiwan, making him the most famous Japanese person in Taiwan right now.
This illustration of Chef Taniguchi also seems to be used on the packaging of a certain mix flour in Taiwan. Chef Taniguchi has probably become a symbol of bread in Taiwan〜
The many women who came this time appear to be reporters from Taiwanese newspapers and magazines〜
When we asked, we heard it was a simultaneous media visit by 24 companies in Taiwan, including TV and print media. It may be unprecedented for this many overseas journalists to gather in Nishinomiya.
They’re crowding around Friand’s No. 1 most popular shokupan bread. It almost looks like the bread is feeling shy. lol
Having a world-class bakery here in Nishinomiya really makes you feel how lucky we are〜. Before they became world No. 1, someone wrote in a Nishi2 survey, “Friand’s croissants are the best in the world.” A prophecy?!
It was impressive to see everyone heading home with loads of souvenirs, looking completely satisfied〜.
(A photo I had taken with him during Kurimas)
That’s world No. 1 Chef Taniguchi. He has apparently received all kinds of offers, including one to coach Malaysia’s international team. But he turns them down because the Nishinomiya shop is important to him. He’s a Nishinomiya treasure〜〜〜
