Japan has reached peak donut.
In a year of otherwise promising trends in the B-kyū gourmet (B-grade cuisine) scene, Japanese diners saved their heartiest appetite for Western-style breakfast.
The onslaught of U.S. franchises specializing in pancakes, French toast and eggs Benedict continued apace, with Slappy Cakes from Portland, Clinton Street Baking Co. from New York and Hawaii's Café Kaila all debuting with predictable menus, long lines and scintillating reviews on the Tabelog dining website.