Age Ichiban: Classic Age Senbei Cracker from Kameda

When it comes to Japanese deep-fried rice crackers or Age Senbei, “Kabuki-Age (歌舞伎揚)” is the best known in the Kanto region around Tokyo.

Meanwhile, people living in the Kansai region around Osaka is most familiar with “Bonchi-Age (ぼんち揚げ)”, as I wrote in this article before.

In addition to them, when we Japanese talk about Age Senbei, there is one more product that shouldn’t be forgotten.

And that is what I introduce here, “Age Ichiban (揚一番)” (138 grams, Price: 218 yen/about 1.9 USD) from Kameda Seika.

Age Ichiban (揚一番) from Kameda

The product Age Ichiban is a deep-fried rice cracker introduced by the Niigata-based confectionery maker “Kameda Seika (亀田製菓)” in 1985.

Loved by both adults and children, it has become a standard Age Senbei in Japan and is often eaten with green tea as an afternoon snack.

As you can see in the photo above, the package contains 21 pieces (or so) of individually-packed small fried crackers. 

They have a light, pleasantly crunchy texture and are savory and yummy. The seasoning includes honey, and the taste is more on the sweet side rather than salty.

Ingredients/Nutrition Facts

Since Kameda Age Ichiban is a type of Senbei, the main ingredient of the dough is non-glutinous rice called “Uruchi-Mai (うるち米)”, the staple of the Japanese diet.

Based on the list pictured above, the snack is seasoned mainly with soy sauce, honey, and sugar.

Other ingredients include vegetable oil, dextrin, starch, spices, protein hydrolyzate (including wheat), salt, powdered seafood extract (including mackerel), sorbitol, trehalose, amino acids, paprika and caramel pigments, and acidifier.

The information on the official website of Kameda Seika says the Age Ichiban cracker has 39 kcal per piece and contains 0.14 g of salt equivalents.

Ichi in Vietnam

Kameda Age Ichiban is sold by the name “Ichi” in Vietnam, where the Japanese cracker has gained wide popularity.