The bakery "Meika Seven" in Oshima, Koto Ward, Tokyo, is once again setting the Japanese internet ablaze, thanks to its signature product, the "Usukawa Anpan" (super thin-skin red bean bun). Its ridiculously packed cross-section has left many netizens exclaiming that it's not even a red bean bun anymore – it's practically "red bean paste with a wrapper!"
The "Usukawa Anpan"'s biggest claim to fame is its impossibly thin dough, barely visible, encasing an absolute mountain of red bean paste. A peek at the cross-section reveals the filling packed right to the edge of the crust, leaving only a whisper of bread around the perimeter. Holding it, you'll immediately notice it feels nothing like your average red bean bun.
Currently, the bun comes with options like chunky red bean paste or smooth red bean paste. The version shared by netizens this time costs around 250 yen. Given the astonishing amount of filling, some savvy eaters have even calculated the weight-to-price ratio, finding it's less than 1 yen per gram! They jokingly call it a budget-friendly block of red bean paste, not a bun.
Meika Seven, the bakery behind this marvel, is located in Oshima, Koto Ward, Tokyo, near Oshima Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line. Besides the "Usukawa Anpan," their "77% Raisin Bread," loaded with an insane amount of raisins, is another signature item. Both buns are beloved for their incredibly generous fillings.
▼ Meika Seven store location and information. Please refer to the store's latest announcements for actual business hours and holidays.
Store Name: Meika Seven
Location: Oshima, Koto Ward, Tokyo
Access: Near Oshima Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line
Signature Products: Usukawa Anpan, 77% Raisin Bread
The buzz started when a Japanese netizen shared a photo of the bun on X, remarking that receiving her favorite red bean bun even motivated her for those every-three-hour breastfeeding sessions during childcare. Once the post went live, everyone's attention was instantly captivated by the sight of the bun completely bursting with red bean paste.
While the original X post is no longer viewable, Togetter has preserved the text and related discussions from that time. The earliest description to pop up in the comments was "Kawa-tsuki Anko," which translates directly to "red bean paste with skin."
Some joked that the dough probably only exists to make the red bean paste easier to hold, while others called it the most aptly named "thin-skin red bean bun" they'd ever seen. Judging by the photos, the outer bread seems to serve merely as a structural shell, with the red bean paste inside being the undisputed star from start to finish.
Another group of netizens couldn't help but ask the obvious question: if there's *that* much filling, why not just eat red bean paste straight up? However, others argued that the ability to perfectly encase such a massive amount of filling with such a delicate skin, all while maintaining the appearance of a regular red bean bun before slicing, truly showcases the baker's incredible skill.
Fans familiar with the shop added that Meika Seven's thin-skin red bean bun has always been a local legend, not just a special item whipped up for this viral moment. Some, seeing the photos, immediately started asking for the store's location, while others, already regulars, confessed they're still amazed by the bun's hefty weight every time they buy one.
From a humble red bean bun to being rebranded by netizens as "red bean paste with a wrapper," perhaps the "Usukawa Anpan"'s real concern isn't whether it has enough filling, but rather how much "existence" that thin outer layer of dough still retains. Next time you're in Oshima, Koto Ward, Tokyo, red bean paste lovers might just want to pick one up and feel its impressive heft for themselves.