Discover Nikkei Logo

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/nikkeialbum/items/764/

Japanophilia

(Zen Bakery)


Published: April 29, 2007 Modified: Feb. 11, 2025

This bread company uses the word "zen" in their name, and their story on their website is a silly, made up story saying that zen monks make muffins.

From the Zen Bakery website:

"The following is an actual transcipt of a dialogue between Sotaku, the original muffin monk, and Mutak, the official Monastery muffin taster monk in 1975.

"What should a Zen muffin be?" inquired Sotaku of Mutak.

"It would be delicious!" replied Mutak.

"Well of course!" scolded Sotaku, "But would it be nutritious? And vegan without refined sugar?"

"Yes, of course" agreed Mutak. "And yet, very simple - not many ingredients."

"And, would it be low in calories, fat and carbs?" asked Sotaku.

"Yes, all those and high in fiber. Don't forget the fiber" said Mutak. "But where and how could such a muffin ever exist?"

"Right here," said Sotaku, producing a package from behind his back. "I made them just this morning, and you may try one right now."

And so it began. The simple Blueberry Bran muffin, once discovered, adapted itself into the Blueberry Mango Cranberry muffin, the Apple Cranberry muffin, the Blueberry Raspberry Oat Bran muffin, and so on and so on. Sotaku produced an exuberance of muffins to the delight and entertainment of the entire monastery. Everything was wholesome, good for you and tasted especially wonderful.

In 1977, Zen Bakery outgrew the monastery and moved to West Los Angeles, where Sotaku, to this day, is still inventing new products."


This work is licensed under a Public Domain


Japanophilia Los Angeles muffins Southern California Zen

Part of this album

Japanophilia
This collection brings together student work from a seminar held at Occidental College, titled "Japanophilia: Orientalism, Nationalism, Transnationalism." The class examined the relationship between collecting/appropriating Japanese cultur…
View Album
Discover Nikkei brandmark

The new Nikkei Album!

We’re excited to share our redesigned Nikkei Album. It’s a work-in-progress, so please have patience as we add more features and functionality. It will be an exciting tool for our community to easily share photos, videos, and text! Learn More
Discover Nikkei brandmark

New Site Design

See exciting new changes to Discover Nikkei. Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon! Learn More

Discover Nikkei Updates

SUPPORT THE PROJECT
Discover Nikkei’s 20 for 20 campaign celebrates our first 20 years and jumpstarts our next 20. Learn more and donate!
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES
We are collecting our community’s reflections on the first 20 years of Discover Nikkei. Check out this month’s prompt and send us your response!
PROJECT UPDATES
New Site Design
See exciting new changes to Discover Nikkei. Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon!