Honke Kamadoya

Honke Kamadoya (本家かまどや) is a Japanese take-out lunch box (bento) chain headquartered in Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. The company was founded on 7 November 1980 with the aim of becoming a 'neighbor's kamado' — a hearth that anyone can easily borrow — and began offering takeaway bento meals. It operates primarily through a franchise system and is centered on western Japan, though it has expanded nationwide. The brand's core product is the warm, freshly prepared takeaway bento, sold through a network of franchised stores. Its menu includes standard bento, limited-time and seasonal items, rice bowls and curry, side dishes, and allergy-searchable options. Representative menu items mentioned in public sources include the Ozeki-san Bento, the Grilled Beef Bento, and the Karamentai Bento. The chain also operates the sushi format Gontaro Sushi as a new store type, launched in December 2002 in Sannomiya, Kobe. Honke Kamadoya is known for its 'Center Core System' franchise model, in which the head office and regional business headquarters share the same capital and provide strong support to all franchisees. The company states its mission as supporting customers' food and health and contributing to local communities by consistently providing warm, delicious bento. Its corporate creed emphasizes contributing to local society, deepening cooperation and trust among all franchisees, and leading the food service industry through continuous effort and creativity. At its peak, the chain operated roughly 2,300 stores nationwide. In May 2008, when 2,087 of Hokka Hokka Tei's 3,450 stores converted to Hotto Motto, Honke Kamadoya temporarily became the largest chain by store count, before Hotto Motto took the top position at the end of July 2009. As of the end of March 2025, the chain had 911 stores, less than half its peak. In addition to the bento business, the company operates the nursing care business Amour Kamadoya. Its mascot character is 'Doyachan'. The founder, Hirochika Kanehara (real name Kim Hong-ju), is a Korean resident in Japan who also helped found Hansot, South Korea's largest bento chain, in 1993.

Honke Kamadoya was founded on 7 November 1980 in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, with the aim of becoming a 'neighbor's kamado' — a hearth that anyone can easily borrow — and began offering takeaway bento meals. From the outset, the company operated under a distinctive franchise model called the 'Center Core System', in which the head office and regional business headquarters share the same capital and provide strong support to all franchise stores. This structure underpinned the chain's expansion, primarily in western Japan but eventually nationwide. The founder, Hirochika Kanehara (real name Kim Hong-ju), is a Korean resident in Japan who studied in South Korea during his student years. At a time when employment for Korean residents in Japan was difficult, Kanehara worked part-time at a shoe factory. When that factory closed, he founded Honke Kamadoya. In 1993, he also helped found Hansot (한솥도시락), which became South Korea's largest bento chain. In December 2002, the company opened a new store format, Gontaro Sushi, in Sannomiya, Chuo-ku, Kobe. At its peak, the chain operated approximately 2,300 stores nationwide. In May 2008, when 2,087 of Hokka Hokka Tei's 3,450 stores converted to Hotto Motto, Honke Kamadoya temporarily became the largest chain by store count. However, by the end of July 2009, Hotto Motto had taken the top position. As of the end of March 2025, the chain had 911 stores, less than half its peak. In addition to the bento business, the company operates the nursing care business Amour Kamadoya. Its mascot character is 'Doyachan'.

• Founded in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture; begins take-out bento service.

• Founder Hirochika Kanehara helps found Hansot, South Korea's largest bento chain.

• Opens new format store Gontaro Sushi in Sannomiya, Chuo-ku, Kobe.

• Temporarily becomes the largest bento chain by store count after 2,087 Hokka Hokka Tei stores convert to Hotto Motto.

• Hotto Motto overtakes Honke Kamadoya to become the largest chain by store count.

• Store count stands at 911, less than half the peak.

• Announces price revision for some products.

A warm, freshly made takeaway bento chain positioned as a convenient 'neighbor's hearth', operating through a tightly integrated franchise network.

• Ozeki-san Bento

• Grilled Beef Bento

• Karamentai Bento

1. 1本家かまどや | 全国チェーンであったかーいお弁当を販売honkekamadoya.co.jp
2. 2当社について | 本家かまどやhonkekamadoya.co.jp
3. 3Honke Kamadoya - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4本家かまどや - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org