The story of Freedom Japanese Market
WHO WE ARE
How It All Began
It all started in the late ‘90s, when our co-founder Ken moved from the U.S. to Japan. Like many before him, he quickly fell in love—with the language, the culture, the food… and inevitably, with Sanae, who would become not only his life partner but also his partner in business.
Back then, Japanese snacks were a well-kept secret outside of Japan. But Ken’s friends and former colleagues kept asking him for care packages filled with quirky treats and colorful candies. There was something undeniably fun—and nostalgic—about the unique flavors, eye-catching packaging, and the simple joy of discovering something completely new.
This sparked an idea.
From Snack Curiosity to Global Delivery
In 2011, we launched Freedom Japanese Market, an online store offering a wide selection of Japanese goods. One product stood out right away: the Fukubukuro, or “lucky bag” filled with surprise snacks. Customers loved the mystery, the regional specialties, and the limited-time treats that were only available in Japan.
The message was clear: people around the world were craving an authentic taste of Japan.
So in 2012, we pivoted. We began curating monthly snack boxes packed with our favorite Japanese snacks—everything from crunchy senbei to playful DIY candy kits. At the time, the concept of “subscription boxes” was still new, so every step felt like an adventure. We packed boxes at our kitchen table, often with our kids nearby, helping out as only little hands can.
Our community grew. And so did our passion.
Who We Are Greatly Influences Our Business
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Freedom Japanese Market is more than a business—it’s our family’s way of sharing a country we love with people all over the world.
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We are a multicultural, family-run business based in Japan, and we carefully select every snack that goes into your box. If it’s not something we’d be excited to eat ourselves, it doesn’t make the cut.
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We partner with local, often small-batch snack makers across Japan to bring you unique, hard-to-find items you won’t see outside of Japan.
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As a family with a wide range of tastes, we know that snack time should never be boring. Your box will always include a mix of sweet, salty, traditional, seasonal, and just plain wacky snacks so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Whether you’re a lifelong Japanese snack fan, a curious foodie, or just looking for something new and fun, we’re thrilled to have the chance to share our love of Japanese snacks with you.
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Getting Through Tough Times and Where We Are Today
Then came the pandemic.
International shipping came to a halt, packages were getting delayed for months—or worse, sent back with no explanation. We knew we couldn’t offer the kind of reliable service we’d expect for ourselves as customers, so we made the tough decision to pause operations.
We weren’t sure when—or even if—we’d be able to reopen.
But snacks have a way of bringing people together.
And after a couple of years (and many home taste tests later), our snack-loving family decided it was time. With the next generation—Juliet and Kevin—now old enough to lend a hand, Freedom Japanese Market is back and better than ever!
We’re excited to relaunch our Japanese snack subscription service with an even broader selection of high-quality, hand-picked treats. From DIY candy kits and limited-edition sweets to bold ramen flavors and nostalgic dagashi snacks, our new boxes are packed with variety and surprises.
If you’re looking for a fun, flavorful, and authentic Japanese experience, you’re in the right place. Just click the subscribe button below and to start your Japanese snack adventure today!
Our boxes also make an unforgettable gift for someone who loves trying new things. You can even send your friends and family a link to our site if you want to give them gift ideas for an upcoming special day “hint-hint”. If you have any questions feel free to contact us.