Seventy years of "thank you," and many more days of "delicious" to come. Uncle Rikuro's (りくろーおじさんの店) has been a beloved name in Osaka for seven decades, and while the times and the city around it have changed, the freshly baked treats and the warm welcome for every customer have not. On July 24, 2026, Uncle Rikuro's celebrates its 70th founding anniversary.
To mark the milestone, Daimaru Umeda is hosting the "Uncle Rikuro's Founding Festival" for six days, from Tuesday, July 21 through Sunday, July 26. Alongside the festival, the Plus Store — the corner selling cheesecakes baked in advance — is reopening bigger and better.
The renewed space is designed to be even more enjoyable to shop in. Across the six days, limited-time items, new products, and touches that evoke the brand's founding era all come together into a celebration of 70 years of gratitude, aimed at longtime fans and first-time visitors alike.
Highlights of the Expanded Plus Store Reopening
A six-day tribute to loyal customers, with plenty for first-timers to discover too.
A more welcoming space — the Plus Store reopens bigger.
The Plus Store, which mainly sells cheesecakes baked in advance, has reopened after a renewal. New items that hadn't appeared before have joined the lineup, and the space itself has been redesigned to make shopping more comfortable.
A 70th-anniversary-only treat — plus a look at the founder's original bicycle.
Gunbai Ozeki, a treat beloved since the brand's earliest days, returns as a limited-edition item. The bicycle used back at the company's founding will also be on display — it's said to have once carried Gunbai Ozeki out for sale.
"Rikuro Locker" mobile ordering debuts August 1.
A new locker system lets customers reserve cheesecake ahead of time and skip the line, launching Saturday, August 1. Details will be posted on Uncle Rikuro's official website at a later date.
Whether for visitors sightseeing, commuters heading home from work, or gifts for family, Uncle Rikuro's has long been part of everyday life in Osaka — and that won't be changing.
A Look at the Renewed Plus Store
Gunbai Ozeki Returns for the Founding Festival
Available: July 21 (Tue) – July 26 (Sun)
Gunbai Ozeki
What is Gunbai Ozeki?
Sold continuously since the brand's founding in 1956, Gunbai Ozeki is the original item that started it all. Its name comes from the founder's love of sumo. For this renewal, the recipe and method have been completely reworked in pursuit of an overall softer texture — rather than perfecting the dough, red bean paste, and chestnut separately, the design focuses on how the three come together into a single texture the moment they're in your mouth. A moist dough paired with a glossy, moisture-rich red bean paste creates a gentler, smoother finish.
To coincide with the Grand Sumo Tournament's July Basho, and in a nod to the auspicious timing, Gunbai Ozeki is being offered at an ozeki-caliber bargain price of ¥230 (tax included).
During the Founding Festival, the bicycle used at the company's founding will be on display — it's said to have once carried Gunbai Ozeki out for sale.
New and Renewed Items at the Plus Store
Freshly Jam-Glazed Apple Pie (whole size) — ¥1,880 (tax included)
[Renewed] "Okage" Milk Bread, sliced fresh in the in-store kitchen — 1.5 loaf / ¥620 (tax included)
[New] Melty Pudding and Whole Banana Cake — ¥1,480 (tax included)
[New] Butter Cookies (set of 8) — ¥830 (tax included)
[New] Mini Melty Fresh Jelly, Matcha — ¥325 (tax included) / Mini Melty Fresh Jelly, Coffee — ¥280 (tax included)
[Back Again] Shiratama Anmitsu — ¥230 (tax included)
About Uncle Rikuro's
- Founder: Rikuro Nishimura (1933–2007)
- 1956: Founded as "Chidoriya."
- 1984: With the opening of the Kitakagaya store, the freshly baked cheesecake went on sale, and the "Rikuro Mark" branding design was born.
- 1989: Opened the Namba flagship store, after which the shop name was unified as "Uncle Rikuro's."
Developed as a company-defining product, the freshly baked cheesecake became Uncle Rikuro's signature item and built a large following of fans. The company now operates 11 directly managed stores across Osaka Prefecture.
At Daimaru Umeda:
- December 2010: Opened on the basement floor of Daimaru Umeda, introducing freshly baked cheesecake made in the in-store kitchen.
- March 2024: Added the "Plus Store" sales corner to help ease congestion.
- July 21, 2026 (Tue): The Plus Store reopens, expanded and renewed.
Whether for visitors sightseeing, commuters heading home from work, or gifts for family, Uncle Rikuro's has long been part of everyday life in Osaka — and that won't be changing.
