Flying Garden

Flying Garden (フライングガーデン) is a Japanese family restaurant chain operated by Flying Garden Co., Ltd., headquartered in Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture. The company was founded in November 1976 by Yajima Nozawa as a pizza and crepe shop named 'Nozawa' in Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture. It was incorporated in December 1981 as Nozawa Happy Foods, and the first Flying Garden restaurant opened in August 1984 in Kiryu. The chain is best known for its signature dish, the 'Bakudan Hamburger' (Bomb Hamburger), a 100% beef hamburger without binders, shaped like a rugby ball and served medium-rare on a hot iron plate, where staff cut it open at the table. The hamburger accounts for about 45% of sales. As of December 2023, the chain operates 58 restaurants across the Kanto region, including Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, and Chiba prefectures. The company was listed on JASDAQ in 2004. It has pursued various new business formats, including a takeout specialty shop 'Fraga Delica' and a licensing agreement with ramen chain Kourakuen. The current president is Takashi Nozawa, son of the founder.

Flying Garden was founded by Yajima Nozawa, who was born in 1947 in Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture. After graduating from high school, he moved to Tokyo and worked for two years at a Western-style restaurant in Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda Ward, and then for three years under Katsuhiro Imai, a gold medalist at the Culinary Olympics. On November 29, 1976, his 29th birthday, he opened a pizza and crepe shop named 'Nozawa' in Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, with about 40 square meters and 24 seats. In 1980, he visited the United States and became convinced that suburban restaurant chains would be accepted in Japan. In December 1981, he established Nozawa Happy Foods Co., Ltd. The first Flying Garden restaurant, 'Shin-Kiryu,' opened in August 1984 in Kiryu, Gunma. The chain initially used the name 'Flying Tiger' until the late 1990s. In 1990, the 'Bakudan Hamburger' was test-introduced at the Shimotochigi store in Utsunomiya, Tochigi. The name 'Bakudan Hamburger' was coined in 1991 after a company meeting where the founder, Yajima, insisted on the name despite unanimous opposition. The hamburger was developed by Yajima in response to his son Takashi's question about the best dish at Flying Garden. The company changed its name to Flying Garden Co., Ltd. in November 1996. In March 2004, it listed its shares on JASDAQ. In 2008, it opened a new concept restaurant 'Cafe Dining Maria Terrace,' which closed the same year. In May 2009, it signed a package licensing agreement with ramen chain Kourakuen, leading to the opening of a Flying Garden store in Fukushima in January 2010, operated by Kourakuen. In September 2012, its own factory, the Tochigi Factory, was completed in Kaminokawa, Tochigi, and in February 2013, self-manufactured Bakudan Hamburgers began selling at all stores. In December 2020, it opened a takeout specialty shop 'Fraga Delica' in Kiryu. In June 2021, Takashi Nozawa became president, and founder Yajima Nozawa became chairman. As of December 2023, the chain operates 58 stores in the Kanto region. The company has experienced financial fluctuations, with losses in the late 2000s and early 2010s, but has been profitable since the fiscal year ending March 2015.

• Yajima Nozawa opens pizza and crepe shop 'Nozawa' in Kiryu, Gunma.

• Establishes Nozawa Happy Foods Co., Ltd.

• Changes company name to Nozawa Happy Foods Co., Ltd.

• Opens first Flying Garden restaurant, Shin-Kiryu, in Kiryu, Gunma.

• Test-introduces Bakudan Hamburger at Shimotochigi store in Utsunomiya, Tochigi.

• Names the hamburger 'Bakudan Hamburger' after internal meeting.

• Changes company name to Flying Garden Co., Ltd.

• Lists shares on JASDAQ (over-the-counter registration).

• Opens new concept 'Cafe Dining Maria Terrace'; closes November 30.

• Signs package licensing agreement with Kourakuen.

• First licensed store, Asaka, opens in Koriyama, Fukushima, operated by Kourakuen.

• Tochigi Factory completed in Kaminokawa, Tochigi.

• Self-manufactured Bakudan Hamburgers begin selling at all stores.

• Receives Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare award for excellent disability employment.

• Ends the 25-year 'Gold Certificate Half-Price Return Fair'.

• Opens takeout specialty shop 'Fraga Delica' in Kiryu Tomoe-cho.

• Takashi Nozawa becomes president; founder Yajima Nozawa becomes chairman.

Family restaurant chain specializing in teppan meat dishes, with a focus on hospitality and handmade quality.

• Bakudan Hamburger (Bomb Hamburger)

  100% beef hamburger without binders, shaped like a rugby ball, served medium-rare on a hot iron plate. Available in Queen (200g), King (250g), and Double (400g) sizes. Accounts for 45% of sales.

• Wakadori no Umai Umai Yaki

  Grilled young chicken dish.

• Ribeye Steak

  Steak dish, subject to occasional shortages.

1. 1爆弾ハンバーグ フライングガーデン－THE FLYING-GARDENfgarden.co.jp
2. 2会社案内(メッセージ・会社概要・沿革他)｜爆弾ハンバーグ フライングガーデン－THE FLYING-GARDENfgarden.co.jp
3. 3Flying Garden - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4フライングガーデン - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org