Official

April 4, 1875. The Ginza Kimuraya Sohonke offered the first sake variety Sakura Anpan to Emperor Meiji, who was serving the Mito clan residence in Mukojima, Tokyo. Anpan is baked with plenty of seasonal feeling by embedding salted petals of Yae cherry blossoms ordered from Mt. Yoshino in Nara on the navel of Anpan. He received the words of the Majesties, saying, "Please continue to pay," and the expression of Tetsutaro Yamaoka, the caretaker of the offering, seems to have loosened.

Tetsushu is happy with the growth of Kimura parent and child, and he wrote and presented a signboard for the Kimura family this year. It is a signboard displayed at the entrance of the current Ginza main store. (* Unfortunately, the original was burned down by the Great Kanto Earthquake.)

After the Meiji Restoration, Western culture rapidly flowed in and bread began to spread little by little, but with the call of Emperor Meiji in 1875, bread became popular among the public. In the early Meiji era, when the word Civilization and enlightenment began to spread, the seven tools of Civilization and enlightenment consisted of newspapers, postal mail, gas lights, steamships, photo paintings, exhibitions, light balloons, Oka steamboats, and Anpan. These must have greatly contributed to the development of Ginza.
And in 1885, "Chindonya", who leads a band called "Hiromeya" (existing in Ginza 1-chome) in Ginza reflecting the Kannarukan period, appeared in Ginza, but Kimuraya adopted this early for advertising, and the name of the Ginza Kimuraya Sohonke echoed all over the world.
In 1887, the Anpan of the Ginza Kimuraya Sohonke was featured in Kabuki's Nakajima-za New Year's performance, and the first generation Sarunosuke Ichikawa, who was at the peak of popularity at that time ("Matsuo Sarunosuke" was written in the explanation of Ukiyo-e, but this is Ichikawa Sarunosuke. Due to the difference in the size of the hut, it is probable that the official stage name could not be used), Tokizo Nakamura, Saburo Nakamura, etc. gained popularity in the capital, and it was a great success. In addition, an eye-catching Nishiki-e depicting the finale of the starring scene was sold and seems to have gained a reputation.

The following songs were performed on the stage.

This is Japan's first commercial music, "Let's eat bread, bread, bread, Kimuraya bread, freshly baked and made authentic Western-style homemade Kimuraya bread, taste Civilization and enlightenment's taste and extend its life."

Reference:

1)　Picture book role numbering May 1886

2)　Nakajima-za New Year's Party Nishiki-e 1887