In 1954, a woman in Asakusa had a husband who wouldn't work. So she started selling rice balls. She named the shop Yadoroku, which sounds like an address and is actually old slang for "good-for-nothing." She meant him. The family kept the name. White rice was still a luxury that year. She sold about 100 onigiri a day. Seventy-two years later her grandson runs the same 16-seat shop behind Sensoji temple. It's the oldest onigiri shop in Tokyo. The Michelin Guide gave it a Bib Gourmand in 2019. Every fall he tastes rice from around the country and picks one for the year. When the day's rice runs out, the shop closes. One rice ball is somewhere around $2 to $5. Across town in Otsuka, a 71-year-old named Yumiko Ukon runs a nine-seat counter called Bongo. Sixty fillings. About 1,200 rice balls a day. She told a reporter people sometimes wait eight hours, which I didn't believe until I saw the photos of the line. An onigiri is not a fancy thing. For a thousand years it was what you pressed into your palm before a long day, what a mother packed for a kid, what a soldier carried to the field. Rice, salt, something in the middle, seaweed. American cities are getting onigiri shops now. It's being called a trend. I don't think it's a trend. I think it's a grandmother in 1954 still feeding people she never met.

From February 1 to 28, at Asakusa Rockza, there will be Chinese-speaking staff at the merchandise area, so you can feel comfortable even if it’s your first time ♡ 🎟 Tickets are available for purchase on the day at the venue! We are fully prepared to welcome you to an extraordinary, otherworldly experience ✨✨ We’re looking forward to seeing you🩵

Kiki Asakura will resume her activities this April. More updates will be shared via official accounts. Thank you for your continued support. #KikiAsakura# #浅倉樹々# #HelloProject# #Jpop# #JapaneseMusic# #MusicNews# #ArtistUpdate# #IdolNews# #MusicLovers# #NowTrending#

【Notice of Kiki Asakura Ending Her Entertainment Career】 #KikiAsakura# #IdolJourney# #PetGroomer# #FarewellToShowbiz# #FansSupport# #10YearsOfYouth# #NewBeginnings# #ForeverGrateful# #FutureChallenges# #AnimalLover#

【HELLO! PROJECT STREAM】 In commemoration of Kiki Asakura's graduation from Tsubaki Factory and Hello! Project graduation, it has been decided to start selling the birthday event video that was made into a DVD in the past. #Helloproject# #tsubaki_factory#

Tubaki Factory just release their second album on May 2021. Riko Yamagishi, Yumeno Kishimoto, and Kiki Asakura introduce you their recommended songs from the album “2nd step”. 📺➡️ #tsubaki_factory# #Helloproject# #MikiNonaka#