From a £220 toaster that makes one slice to loaves designed to crisp up better, the nation is being gripped by a new culinary obsession

Breakfast at Galant, a cafe in the Ueno neighbourhood of Tokyo, has a decidedly retro feel: a boiled egg, salad, plain yoghurt with a swirl of blueberry jam and a cup of coffee.

The centrepiece, though, is the perfectly executed toast – a single slice of white bread, its crunchy exterior concealing an inner fluffiness, served just warm enough for the butter to melt without dripping.

Related: Baked cod, miso and bok choy: unpacking Japan's healthy school lunches