Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
Rising costs push Osaka's takoyaki and okonomiyaki shops to close
Osaka's takoyaki and okonomiyaki shops are facing mounting pressure as the costs of running them rise.
TACO Bo's, a neighborhood takoyaki shop in Osaka's Higashisumiyoshi Ward, closed in January after more than 20 years in business.
Its octopus costs rose by more than 40%, while flour and cooking oil rose about 20% and packaging costs roughly 50%.
The owner raised the price of six takoyaki balls from less than 300 yen to 420 yen, but the shop continued to lose money.
Twenty-eight konamon businesses went bankrupt in Japan in 2025, the highest number since records began in 2009; Osaka Prefecture had 11 of those cases.
Konamon includes takoyaki, okonomiyaki and yakisoba, foods closely associated with Osaka, and the strain matters because small shops are part of the city's food culture.
Shops in visitor-heavy entertainment districts are doing better than suburban businesses, which are being left behind, according to a research company representative; the sources give no specific next steps.
Rising ingredient and packaging costs have contributed to the closure of Osaka shops selling takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
TACO Bo's, a neighborhood takoyaki shop in Osaka's Higashisumiyoshi Ward, closed in January 2026 after more than 20 years.
The shop's octopus purchase price rose by more than 40%, while flour and cooking oil prices rose about 20%.
Nationwide, 28 konamon businesses with debts of at least 10 million yen went bankrupt in 2025, the highest number since records began in 2009.
Osaka Prefecture recorded the most of those bankruptcies, with 11 cases.
- Who
- Osaka shops selling takoyaki, okonomiyaki and other flour-based foods, including TACO Bo's.
- What
- Rising costs are contributing to shop closures and bankruptcies.
- When
- TACO Bo's closed in January 2026; 28 konamon businesses went bankrupt in 2025.
- Where
- Osaka, Japan, and nationwide.
- Why
- Ingredient and packaging costs rose, while suburban areas were reportedly being left behind as entertainment districts attracted visitors.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
TACO Bo's opened in Osaka's Higashisumiyoshi Ward.
TACO Bo's owner decided to close the shop.
28 konamon businesses nationwide went bankrupt, the highest number since records began in 2009.
TACO Bo's closed.
- TACO Bo's opening
- 2004
- TACO Bo's closure
- January 2026
- Octopus purchase price
- Rose from about 25,000 yen to around 36,000 yen per 10 kilograms
- Konamon bankruptcies in 2025
- 28 nationwide
- Osaka Prefecture bankruptcies
- 11 in 2025
What people are saying
Takoyaki shops are supposed to be affordable places where people can casually drop in, but we can no longer offer that. I was proud that our shop was loved by the locals. But we had reached our limit.
While shops in entertainment districts attracting inbound visitors are thriving, suburban areas are being left behind.