Roundup! Sandos of Japan

I believe this is our first newsletter of the new year, and as such we probably should wish you all a happy one. The problem, of course, is that the moment has passed. So, please know that if it were earlier in 2026 we would be wishing you a Happy New Year, but since it’s too late - we won’t. 

Top of the list for 2026 newsletters is a round up of my Japan trip. I wondered before leaving if I should set a goal of having a sandwich every day (12 total) while in Japan, but then abandoned that since there are so many different foods to eat over there. As it turns out, Japan is so committed to delicious sando culture, that NOT eating a sandwich a day proved to be nearly impossible. 

Before we get to that roundup though, we have a prize to award (it is awards season after all). As you may recall from prior newsletters, we asked this community for feedback on merch designs and also on the site. Many of you have chimed in, and we’re very grateful. One user, from the earliest days of the MSD, has been sharing feedback and uploading sandwiches religiously. That club member is Nice Meats, who we’d like to congratulate on winning the prestigious “Hoagie” t-shirt. 

For the rest of you who are rightfully pissed about losing out on this award, I’ve got good news: We’re going to do a run of some sweet hats so you too can proudly show off your love of sandwiches and club membershipness. If you’d like one, let us know (supplies are limited!) - but first upload a sandwich to the site so we can see what you’ve been munching on. 

Ok, on to sandwiches in Japan. I don’t think I was fully prepared for how deep the sandwich culture is in Japan. It ranged from fully stocked shelves of different and delicious sandwiches in places like 7/11 or train stations, to upscale fine dining sandos of perfectly crafted ingredients. Sandwiches were also heavily embedded in commercial culture (think: toys, clothes, etc). Anyhow, here are my learnings -  in no particular order:

1. Eggs are the steady: There were so many different types of egg sandwiches that I couldn’t keep count. Simple egg salad on milk bread, soft boiled egg, omelette sandos, egg katsu (breaded and fried), and plenty more. 

2. Convenience stores have tons of delicious pre-made options: You’ll find a plethora of the egg and cold deli options, but also things like fried chicken katsu, teriyaki, and sandwiches filled with sweet treats. 

3. Fruit plays a huge role in sandwiches: Ever had a green grape and whipped cream sandwich? Me neither - until I went to Japan. And guess what? They’re insanely delicious. 

4. Katsu is king: You will find these everywhere from train stations to top shelf wagyu steak restaurants. We mentioned the egg version above, but you’ll see lots of chicken & pork cutlet, and very tender cuts of beef fried up and wedged between perfectly soft and toasty milk bread with tonkatsu sauce.

5. Sandwich culture is literally everywhere: From the convenience stores to train stations to high end retail shops. Japan is definitely one of the world’s premier sandwich locations. A worthy location for an ex-US HQ if anyone is looking to move there and take on a non-paying executive position… 

I have more I could share (i.e. you can find a killer cheesesteak with house made whiz in Tokyo), but this is quite a lot to take in so we’ll clip it here. 

Congrats again to Nice Meats on his victory. For the rest of you cursing his name, we’ll have hats for you soon. Remember to show us what you’ve been eating on the site!

Until next time may your dreams be filled with sandos (like mine).

Club:Sandwich is the world's first ever members-only club for sandwich lovers (as far as you know). Together we discover, order, make, eat, and discuss sandwiches while building the largest, most comprehensive database of sandwiches ever. Grab a sandwich and then share it with us by adding it to the Club:Sandwich site. Uploading and reviewing sandwiches will earn you points that have no value and cannot be used in any way.