Experience Nostalgia at the 'Endangered Foods Fair' Featuring Showa School Lunches from November 7-9

Reliving Showa-era School Lunches at the Endangered Foods Fair

From November 7 to 9, 2025, Tokyo will host a unique event that takes visitors on a nostalgic journey back to their school days. The 'Endangered Foods Fair' promises to recreate the iconic meals of the Showa era, featuring some of the most memorable, if not contentious, school lunches that many recall with fondness—or perhaps confusion.

Imagine digging into a plate of curry stew that tastes like a memory, yet defies categorization—it's neither curry nor stew as we know it today. Then there's the classic French salad, a dish that represents the very essence of school lunches from that time period. But perhaps the most intriguing offering is the infamous skim milk, often remembered as a challenge. For some, it brings waves of nostalgia, while for others, it's an experience wrapped in mystery and curiosity.

The fair takes place at the 'Kyuushoku no Obasan Cafeteria' in Hachioji City, Tokyo, an establishment renowned for its dedication to replicating traditional school meals. The event is hosted by the cafeteria team, alongside ecoyatais, aiming to celebrate and preserve these endangered flavors. Admission is free, and while entry costs nothing, the meal experience will be available at reasonable prices, with most menus not exceeding 2,300 yen.

Among the highlight dishes are popular variants of fried bread—known for being difficult to take home but modified to enhance their taste for at-home enjoyment, made with care and fondness. Each dish served is a tribute to the nutritional creativity that characterized lunches in the 1970s. Meals such as the soft noodles, famously cut into four pieces for easier handling, or the bottled milk, which many students would chew and swallow, will undoubtedly strike a chord with older attendees.

The fried bread comes in diverse flavors; for instance, you can choose from options like kinako or sugar, paired with the nostalgic French salad, soft noodles, and rich curry stew, bringing visual memories to life. Each plate is a canvas depicting culinary history and the memories tied to it.

The event serves as both a bridge between generations and an opportunity for younger guests to experience something rarely available today—meals that have slowly faded from school cafeterias. It offers an engaging way for people to learn about the food traditions of the past while enjoying a communal experience that promotes togetherness and shared memories.

Whether you're a parent wanting to share experiences with your children, or simply someone looking to dive deeper into Japan's culinary past, the 'Endangered Foods Fair' is sure to satisfy your appetite for history and flavor. Enjoy the creativity and nostalgia on display, and take this opportunity to savor flavors that many thought were lost to time.

Mark your calendars for the Showa-era school lunch revival extravaganza, and witness a culinary phenomenon that promises to be unforgettable. Reviving old tastes while igniting new memories, this event is a can't-miss for food lovers and history enthusiasts alike. Visit official site for more details and to plan your visit to this unique event.