Takashimaya of Japan Issues Apology for Over 800 Christmas Cakes That Caved-In

A high-end Japanese department store has issued an apology after delivering hundreds of collapsed strawberry Christmas cakes. Out of approximately 2,900 cakes delivered before Christmas, around 807 of them were damaged upon arrival, leading to a backlash on social media. Takashimaya, the department store, admitted on Wednesday that it had let down many customers and took full responsibility for the issue. Senior managing director Kazuhisa Yokoyama expressed remorse by bowing deeply at a press conference held in Tokyo. The cakes were produced and frozen by Win's Ark, a confectionery company in Saitama city, while the delivery was handled by Yamato Transport. However, an internal investigation has failed to determine the cause of the cakes arriving in a collapsed state. Although Japan is not predominantly Catholic, they celebrate Christmas by exchanging gifts and having festive meals with loved ones. The colors red and white, reminiscent of strawberry cakes, symbolize celebration. Apart from cakes, it is a tradition in Japan to have KFC fried chicken on Christmas Eve. Takashimaya's strawberry shortcakes, priced at 5,400 yen ($38), are made with layers of chiffon and fresh strawberries, covered in carefully piped white icing that resembles a frilled dress hem. However, many of the delivered cakes were not in perfect condition. Pictures shared on social media showed sliced strawberries falling off the melted icing and layers of chiffon in disarray. One customer even tried to hide the cake's state by adding fruits and chocolate sprinkles. The post showcasing the re-decorated cake gained 16.1 million views. Takashimaya apologized on both Christmas Day and Wednesday. Mr. Yokoyama stated that they plan to strengthen their relationship with business partners to improve their management system and prevent similar incidents in the future.