It's literally the end of an era in Japan right now. When Emperor Akihito abdicates his throne at the end of April, a new Emperor, Naruhito, will take his place. This will end Japan's Heisei Era and mark the start of a new one, the Reiwa Era.
As a result, the entire country is abuzz with celebrations that both celebrate and commemorate the Heisei period while building up hype for a brand new start come May 1st. One of the more grandiose food celebrations comes courtesy of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo, whose Golden Giant Burger at the Oak House Steakhouse heralds in the new era.
Photo courtesy of the Grand Hyatt Tokyo
Weighing a solid 3 kilograms (over 6 pounds), the beefy burger comes with standard accoutrements like aioli, tomato, lettuce, and cheddar. Then come the unconventional ones, like sliced Kuroge Wagyu beef steak, foie gras, a generous helping of truffles shaved tableside, and a gold-dusted bun.
The burger comes with salad and fried potato wedges, alongside a magnum of champagne, red wine, or white wine. In total, the entire meal costs about 100,000 yen ($900 US) and can feed 6-8 people.
Photo courtesy of the Grand Hyatt Tokyo
In a way, this burger is an absolutely fitting manner in which to celebrate the new Emperor's coronation. That event marks the beginning of the Reiwa Era, and "Reiwa" in Japanese translates to "Beautiful Harmony." The imagery of the gold-dusted bun as well as the exquisite flavors paired with the burger can definitely evoke those emotions. Its size and fancier ingredients also call to the regality of an occasion like the start of a new period in Japanese history.
To celebrate this transitional period, the Grand Hyatt Tokyo's Oak Door Steakhouse will have this burger on the menu until June 30th. Reservations for it are required 3 days in advance.
[h/t SoraNews24]
