Back in 2016, in the bustling city of Osaka, a group of passionate students from different corners of the world came together to embark on an exciting journey while working at ZenMarket (now ZenGroup).
Their love for Japan, its culture, and its unique offerings was the common thread that bound them together.
But that wasn’t all of it; they also really loved watching movies and anime and throwing some watch parties at home! What’s better than having a couple of friends over, a bunch of Japanese snacks, and enjoying a good movie together?
This team of interns started ZenPop with the support of ZenMarket. With a shared vision of sharing their experiences and love for Japan with the world, they set out to create something truly special.
They believed that by packing their passion (snacks, of course, because snacking is a passion) into every box, they could make people from all walks of life happy and give them the same shared experience of movie and anime nights.
Located in Osaka, the former kitchen of the Emperor, ZenPop drew inspiration from the city's lively atmosphere. Osaka is renowned for iconic landmarks like Dotonbori, where the famous Glico man sign illuminates the night, and Umeda, a bustling hub of activity.
The city is also known for its mouth-watering delicacies, including the irresistible takoyaki, okonomiyaki and more.
Osaka's people were known for their extroverted and warm-hearted nature. They love engaging in conversations, sharing laughter, and spreading their passions with others. This unique culture at the heart of the Kansai region is something that had to go into the boxes!
While those interns have taken their journey abroad to spread the word, a new team of passionate individuals has taken over the mission.
They didn’t want to keep the boxes to snacks only, and so came the ramen boxes: because quality instant ramen are hard to find overseas, there as a need for a reputable ramen dealer from Japan to supply all ramen fans around the world!
And then came the stationery, because the need for creativity was real, and suddenly, the team had 3 avenues to spread a connection to Japan!
It’s been an exciting journey as Japanese companies never cease to innovate, release new products, and have original things for us to try and share with you!
If you’re reading this today, we’re grateful for the time you’ve taken to check us out, and hope that you’ll find something to your liking on our store.
If you don’t know where to start, how about heading over to our guide to enjoying Japanese snacks with movies, or to our guide to using Japanese stationery to get creative!
