2009 News Story on "Yokosuka Navy Burger"

Below is a U.S. Navy News Service story on the launch of Yokosuka's "Navy Burger" in January 2009 ..... As things turned out, the Navy Burger became a real hit product, and is now one of Yokosuka's top-level tourism items, drawing thousands of visitors from Tokyo and up the Keihin Kyuko tracks, especially on weekends and holidays.

The U.S. Navy Burger joined the Japanese Navy & JMSDF's "Navy Curry Rice" as popular specialty foods of Yokosuka. 

(* And just for the record .... I am the one who came up with the idea for Navy Burger, while working for RADM Kelly's staff .... I even wrote the recipe, after talking to some U.S. Navy cooks .... but it was others -- especially Yokosuka City government staffers -- who took the idea and gave it wings and made it fly...)

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YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Local restaurants in Yokosuka are now offering the public authentic American style burgers, using a recipe provided by Commander U.S. Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ).  The burger, named "Yokosuka Navy Burger," is a new specialty food for Yokosuka.

Prior to launching initial sales of Yokosuka Navy Burger, the city of Yokosuka hosted a taste testing event at Tsunami Mexican Restaurant on Dobuita Street January 23, 2009.

"The purpose of the specialty burger is to promote tourism and to liven up the community," said Yokosuka City Planning and Coordination Division Director Kenji Yasuda.  "Yokosuka is well known as a U.S. Navy base town with an American atmosphere, but when tourists came to visit Yokosuka, we didn't have any special food that they could only eat here.  They tended to go to Yokohama's China Town or other places after stopping by Yokosuka.  So we would like them to stay longer in Yokosuka and enjoy food here."

After Yokosuka Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya received a recipe for the Yokosuka Navy Burger from CNFJ Rear Admiral James Kelly in November 2008, Yokosuka City officials asked restaurants around Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka to cooperate with the city's revitalization project.  Four restaurants started offering the specialty burger January 30, 2009.  By the middle of February, customers will be able to order them at 10 local restaurants, according to Yasuda.

To be authorized by the city of Yokosuka to make and sell the Navy Burger, restaurants need to abide by the following rules:

  - Meat has to be 100 percent beef with 20 percent fat.
  - Don't use too much spices, but use salt and pepper.
  - Buns need to have white sesame seeds on the top.
  - Don't include ketchup and mustard on the burger but have it available for customers to use if desired.
  - Don't mix milk, bread crumbs and eggs into the ground beef (usual for Japanese burgers).

According to Yasuda, city officials wondered if all the restaurants would come up with the same taste.  But they didn't.  All the restaurants successfully made their own unique Navy Burger.

Tsunami Restaurant owner and Chef Shigeru Iida and his wife Keiko searched for the best way to make the Navy Burger following the rules.  Iida said it was very challenging to make unique burgers which would stand out among others.  Iida put a lot of time and labor into producing their high-quality Navy Burger.

"We use natural marine yeast of Miura [Peninsula] for our buns, which is chewy and very tasty," said Iida.  "We also make ketchup and special mayonnaise using American mayonnaise.  So, hopefully it will be new [not only for Japanese] but for the Americans as well."

Iida also came up with unique naming for his burgers. In recognition of the 7th Fleet, Iida will have seven kinds of Navy Burgers at the restaurant.

"The biggest burger's name is 'George Washington,' which weighs about 500 gram (17 ounces)," Iida said.  Smaller sizes are also available.

"We also would like U.S. servicemen and their families to come out into town and enjoy eating out and shopping," said Yasuda.  "With more Americans out in town, more tourists can enjoy the American atmosphere, which will also help liven up the community."