Known as "Japan's hardest prison to escape" and dubbed a "hellish" institution, the famous Abashiri Prison Museum in Hokkaido (which ceased operations as a prison and was converted into a museum) has seen its popularity skyrocket thanks to its appearance in the manga series "Golden Kamuy."
Recently, a special dish served at the museum's cafeteria, the "Release Celebration Meal," sparked a massive buzz on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan. Many netizens were absolutely raving about the menu, with comments like, "I totally want to eat this, even if I haven't been to jail!" This naturally led to curiosity about the meal's origins.
The discussion kicked off when railway enthusiast "Senmu Shasho" shared a photo of the Abashiri Prison cafeteria on X. He revealed that the "Release Celebration Meal" served there was designed based on the foods inmates missed and craved most during their incarceration.
The meal features a delicious-looking spread: fried pork cutlet (tonkatsu) covered in egg, a cola, Haagen-Dazs ice cream, and miso soup. Simple yet satisfying, it's said that cola was a drink many inmates longed for.
The post quickly went viral, with countless netizens exclaiming, "I totally want to eat this, even if I haven't been to jail!" "This must be the taste of freedom!" and "Everyone should experience their 'first meal out of prison' at least once!"
What resonated most with many was the immediate recall of the classic 1977 Japanese film "The Yellow Handkerchief." In the movie, Ken Takakura's character, an ex-convict named Yu, walks into a diner after his release and utters the famous line: "Give me a beer... and then soy sauce ramen and a tonkatsu don."
This scene has long been considered an iconic symbol of "regaining freedom." One netizen commented, "Seeing this combo immediately made me think of Ken Takakura," while another added, "Younger people might not know, but this is pretty much the shared image of a 'release meal' for Japanese people."
During the discussion, many also wondered what inmates truly craved most. Some initially assumed it would be sushi, high-end desserts, or alcohol.
However, the netizen who shared the photo stated that according to relevant information, many inmates actually longed for foods with stronger flavors during their sentences. He explained, "It seems people particularly crave rich, bold tastes." Thus, dishes like soy sauce ramen, tonkatsu don, and other fried, high-fat, high-sodium meals often topped the list of what ex-inmates wanted to eat most upon release.
Today, Abashiri Prison no longer functions as a correctional facility but has been transformed into a museum showcasing the history of prisons during the Meiji era, attracting hordes of tourists annually. Beyond learning about the history of Japan's penal system, the "prison meal" and "Release Celebration Meal" offered at the museum's cafeteria have become popular must-try experiences.
So, if you ever get the chance to visit, why not give this "Release Celebration Meal" a try and see what all the fuss is about?