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Samurai burgers

28 Comments

Employee Kana Ienaga shows off Burger King Japan's "Aka (red) Samurai" burgers at its restaurant in Tokyo on Friday. The fast-food chain offers beef, right, and chicken, left, burgers that come with red-colored buns and cheese made of tomato powder in addition to spicy red sauce. The red samurai burger follows last year's big hit black burgers.

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Because nothing showcases the courage and culture of the samurai like a slab of salt-infused suet.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

The fast-food chain offers beef, right, and chicken, left, burgers that come with red-colored buns and cheese made of tomato powder in addition to spicy red sauce. The red samurai burger follows last year’s big hit black burgers.

Interesting. Here in the states, like probably many other countries, the move is towards more natural/less-processed foods, which is why chains like Chipotle are doing so well, especially among millienials. But, in Japan, they have "red-colored buns", "cheese made of tomato powder", and "last year's big hit black burgers". Why the difference?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Putting the face and name of an employee in this public picture goes against worker rights. Even if she agreed, she might have done so feeling she couldn't say no.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Putting the face and name of an employee in this public picture goes against worker rights.

I'm not sure that's true. I'm also pretty sure she JUMPED at the chance to be "famous" if only for a little bit.

That being said, I'm not the type of burger enthusiast who is swayed by red buns. I am the type who is swayed by cute burger sellers!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Interesting. Here in the states, like probably many other countries, the move is towards more natural/less-processed foods, which is why chains like Chipotle are doing so well, especially among millienials. But, in Japan, they have "red-colored buns", "cheese made of tomato powder", and "last year's big hit black burgers". Why the difference?

Not only that, but Japan could like in the States make more skinless chicken versions, whole wheat buns, use zero trans fat. Was really happy and surprised when General Mills announced that they will stop adding all artificial ingredients to their cereals by 2017 and thankfully, America is picking up fast on that trend and Japan, for some strange reason is still behind. In the States most places like Mc Donald's and Burger King bake their Apple pies and Japan fries theirs. Japan has the know how and the absolute capability to change this and yet they don't, I just can't understand the rationale behind that marketing thought process.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

My first reaction - before even reading the article - I hope she doesn't have any contagious diseases, breathing all over the pseudo-food... (unless, of course, she's behind a glass pane ?)

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Why samurai?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Samurai...Blood...plus the Samurai spirit to eat something so bold.

The black buns were made from squid ink. Very healthy.

These burgers are not colored with food dyes I believe. I will find out.

Transfat when eaten in small amounts will never hurt you.

This is Japan, and not Jersey. We do not mass consume as they do in America. I do not think that eating 4-5 burgers on whole wheat is going to make you healthier than eating one of these things. Besides, Americans will quaff down a gallon or so of soda....diet? hahaha and mass consume a huge amount of french fries at the same time.

Quite often here they have specials. Small/Medium/Large Fries or Soda for ¥100 no matter what the choice. Do you know what the Japanese do in general? They order the small size. Think about it. Would you?

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Samurai...Blood

Sounds absolutely....delish?

:)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Burger King Japan? They are still around? I know they closed the one down in Jimbocho, and then later the one in Sugamo. And Wendy's fell off the map in Ebisu, and Shinjuku. So this one in the article is likely to be be in Minato-ku, the delegated western settlement of Tokyo.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Why samurai?

Tastier than ninja.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"...cheese made of tomato powder...."

?? Some mistake here, surely.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Burger King Japan? They are still around? I know they closed the one down in Jimbocho, and then later the one in Sugamo. And Wendy's fell off the map in Ebisu, and Shinjuku. So this one in the article is likely to be be in Minato-ku,

Not sure if your information is out of date or not. Burger King made an exit from Japan in the early 2000s, and returned two or three years ago. There are a fair number of them now (in kanto at least, not sure about the rest of the country).

"...cheese made of tomato powder...."

?? Some mistake here, surely.

They probably meant 'with', not 'of'.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Not sure if your information is out of date or not. Burger King made an exit from Japan in the early 2000s, and returned two or three years ago. There are a fair number of them now (in kanto at least, not sure about the rest of the country)."

I already know they have them at Yokota base and Zama base. The US base's have more American restaurants in one location, better than all of Japan ofcourse! The people who live on base more than likely have a much higher standard of living than most of Japan-these days, especially when it comes to population density, freedom of speech, and freedom of thought, and treating women fairly. The postal service on base, gas service, fuel service is in a class by itself. But i can guarantee U they are not in Jimbo-cho, and Sugamo, and Wendy's is definitely not in Ebisu. So according to you they are in Kanto= Yokohama? and what other place please tell us since you know...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"Not sure if your information is out of date or not. Burger King made an exit from Japan in the early 2000s, and returned two or three years ago. There are a fair number of them now (in kanto at least, not sure about the rest of the country)."

I already know they have them at Yokota base and Zama base. The US base's have more American restaurants in one location, better than all of Japan ofcourse! The people who live on base more than likely have a much higher standard of living than most of Japan-these days, especially when it comes to population density, freedom of speech, and freedom of thought, and treating women fairly. The postal service on base, gas service, fuel service is in a class by itself. But i can guarantee U they are not in Jimbo-cho, and Sugamo, and Wendy's is definitely not in Ebisu. So according to you they are in Kanto= Yokohama? and what other place please tell us since you know...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

So according to you they are in Kanto= Yokohama?

Kanto is the kanto area of Japan, which is Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba etc.

You can see a list of locations here: https://www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp/stores/index.html (more than just Kanto it turns out).

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Ok, I looked a the list,: Most are in Shinjuku or near: Shinjuku-ku, Yotsuya Shinjuku Cascade Shinjuku Keio Mall Takadanobaba Yoyogi-Uehara Ikebukuro

Akasaka Minato-ku Roppongi Shibuya Kanda Chiyoda x2

Shinagawa x3   Akihabara Ochanomizu Taito-ku x2

0 ( +1 / -1 )

For a nation that supposedly values aesthetics when it comes to food (and scoffs at American 'volume for value' instead of packaging, etc.), and with the expression "simple is best", they sure do love to contradict themselves. I'll pass, thank you.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I already know they have them at Yokota base and Zama base.

I don't really count those as being Japan, and in fact the operators of the on-base BK will be different than the operators of the Japan BK.

Ok, I looked a the list,: Most are in Shinjuku or near: Shinjuku-ku, Yotsuya Shinjuku Cascade Shinjuku Keio Mall Takadanobaba Yoyogi-Uehara

You know 'most' means more than 50%, right?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Man, forget that. They should make a navy blue and pink burger to celebrate nadeshiko Japan's World Cup entrance.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japanese businesses are very customer conscious so I would guess that they are not as chemical laden as hamburgers in North America. Taking the Japan style to make food pleasing to look at combined with the boring hamburger. The black sesame buns were similarly created. These are gimmicky but match the industry trying to win customers and keep them interested like any other. Probably green ones somewhere...

How do Japanese feel about food additives? The anti-fake ingredient, anti-GMO movement is growing elsewhere hence businesses in the USA jumping over each other to use only natural ingredients.

But again, if the ingredients are normal like sesame, and create black burgers, or some other natural ingredient for red, then it's kinda fun thing to do?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The red samurai burger follows last year’s big hit black burgers.

How big of a hit could it have been if it's not back again this year? Last year's black burger looked a bit nasty. I doubt they sold very many of them.

I already know they have them at Yokota base and Zama base.

That's good to know. I'll have to check it out. As a non-US civilian, I'm assuming the guards at the gate will still let me onto the base as long as I show them my Burger King members card? lol :)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Those things look ugly.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

How big of a hit could it have been if it's not back again this year?

It is back this year. I think it must have been a hit or it wouldn't be.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Oh you're right, the black one will start on August 21st. I just had a look at their site. The salted carmel pies don't look all that appetizing either. I think all this might be about publicity.

https://www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The hamburger and chicken burgers look great and she has a very attractive smile.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There is definitely no shortage of Burger Kings in the Tokyo area. They are all over the city if you are looking for one. Now that I got that out of way, I did try the burger yesterday in at the Kabuki-cho restaurant. It's a little spicier than the normal burgers with the onions and sauce, but I did enjoy it. In fact, I like it better than the Black Burger. I think the Red Burger sauce tastes similar to Curry, in my opinion.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

sf2k: "Taking the Japan style to make food pleasing to look at combined with the boring hamburger."

These are not at all pleasing to look at. Nor are the monstrosities they call pizza that are covered with corn, mayonnaise, and other sauces. If this were from another country you would easily call them monstrosities and say that the Japanese have simpler tastes and are more interested in the aesthetic. Can't be both ways, because these and creations like it are horrid looking, and also chalk full of the chemicals you say "Japanese business avoid because they are consumer conscious", which is another crock. Saying "fast food" and "natural" in the same sentence is quite funny in and of itself.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

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