
Mr. Sato gets decadent by sustaining himself with caviar while camping in Ginza to try to be the first person in Japan with an iPhone 11.
After spending years licking his emotional wounds, Mr. Sato is back. This week marked his return to the world of camping out on the streets of Tokyo to attempt to become the first person in Japan with the latest model of iPhone (this time an iPhone 11), completing his psychological recovery from the pain of being soft-banned from the festivities in 2016.
So on September 17, Mr. Sato staked out a spot on the sidewalk of Tokyo’s swanky Ginza district, just steps away from the entrance to mobile phone service provider SoftBank’s local branch.
But while Mr. Sato’s heart has remained filled with excitement, his stomach has repeatedly become empty during the three days he’s been waiting so far. So on Day 3, he had his line-up partner Butch save their spots while he went to get some lunch.
Stepping into the basement of the Tokyo Plaza Ginza shopping center, he was tempted by the restaurant area’s delicious poisonous blowfish ramen. However, he wanted to get back to his position in line as soon as possible, and he figured it would be smarter to get something to go. So when his eyes fell upon a place called Sandwich House, he figured it’d be perfect for his current needs.
But as he looked at the menu, he soon found out that Sandwich House is no ordinary sandwich joint, since it offers such gourmet options as wagyu roast beef, baby lobster, and king crab sandwiches.
As a matter of fact, the place’s full name is Caviar House & Prunier Sandwich House, and just as promised, you can get a caviar sandwich, for a cool 6,000 yen (US$55).
While that’s definitely not chump change, the sticker shock wasn’t enough to knock Mr. Sato off his feet. Compared to the 10,000-yen sushi and wagyu bento boxed lunches he’s consumed in the name of journalistic excellence/gastronomic decadence, a 6,000-yen sandwich is a bargain, and so he ordered one without hesitation.
Caviar House & Prunier does realize that 6,000 yen is more than most people usually drop on take-out, so the caviar sandwich comes in a classy black box, embossed with “The Ultimate Lifestyle” in gold text.
Oddly enough, the sandwich’s hefty price doesn’t include assembly. Instead, the components are all waiting for you inside the box, so that you can experience the joy and satisfaction of the performing the final steps of its preparation yourself.
The bread does come pre-buttered, so the first step is to add some slices of hard-boiled egg, followed by the fish eggs.
The star ingredient, Siberian sturgeon caviar, comes packed in a 20-gram (0.7-ounce) tin, and Mr. Sato took a moment to admire it after popping the top.
The sandwich also comes with a container of creamy special sauce…
…and, finally, some thin-diameter sliced chives to sprinkle in.
▼ Finished!
With assembly completed, all that was left was for Mr. Sato to dig in…
…while mentally blocking out Buch’s repeated requests to let him have half.
▼ “Sorry, Butch. I can’t hear you over all this luxury.”
Of course, with Mr. Sato having used so much of his food budget on a single sandwich, he might have to tighten his belt for the rest of the iPhone wait, and perhaps go without some of the finer fare he’s become accustomed to, like 3,240-yen persimmons. But with the taste of caviar still fresh on his tongue and in his mind, he’ll make do.
Restaurant information
Caviar House & Prunier / キャビアハウス&プルニエ サンドイッチハウス
Address: Tokyo-to, Chuo-ku, Ginza 5-2-1, Tokyu Plaza Ginza basement level 2
東京都中央区銀座5-2-1 東急プラザ銀座 B2F
Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Website
Photos ©SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
[ Read in Japanese ]



















The cops kick Mr. Sato off the street during his attempt to wait on sidewalk for the new iPhone
Mr. Sato returns to the line, waits three nights for an iPhone 11
We attend the official release ceremony for the new iPhone 11 in Japan
Mr. Sato retires from being the first person in Japan to buy iPhones, watches this guy instead
Requiem for a smartphone buyer: Mr. Sato gets no iPhone X but has a new lease on life
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s adorable pudding chick becomes a transit card mascot
Pikachu cakes and other adorable Pokémon 30th anniversary food coming to Tokyo luxury hotel
Sushi Pizza surprises diners in one of the best food destinations in Japan
Gigantic gacha machine appears in Tokyo department store for capsule toy celebration
Starbucks Japan releases a new limited-edition Frappuccino inspired by espresso affogato
The Japan Burger Championship 2026 in Yokohama next month is the ultimate battle of the beef
133-year-old Japanese company’s cookies go beyond matcha with dashi and shichimi flavors
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Mr. Sato takes a walk on Tokyo’s American-style street to get some American/Japanese ice cream
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Krispy Kreme releases new limited-edition fox doughnuts at only four stores in Japan
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
Two new Sailor Moon art manhole covers are coming to Usagi’s real-world Tokyo neighborhood
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Studio Ghibli releases new anime keychains that are like miniature figurines
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Mr. Sato comes out of retirement to wait for the iPhone X three days in advance
The last of the Mohican-hairstyle-wearing people still lining up for iPhones
Here’s an easy way to check if the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will fit in your pocket
“Don’t we have photos of Mr. Sato with a new iPhone?” “No, he spent two days at the wrong store.”
Mr. Sato shows up in costume, is the first to purchase an iPhone 6 Plus, meets Ken Watanabe AGAIN
Can you unlock your new iPhone 6 Plus with your nipple? We can! 【Video】
iPhone 6 launch keeps Chinese customs officials busy as they seize hundreds of smuggled units
Our reporter Mr. Sato becomes first Japanese buyer of a Docomo iPhone5S!
Small hands? Japanese Twitterer gets creative and makes handy case for the wider iPhone 6
Mr. Sato does not buy an iPhone7, calls this year’s Docomo release ceremony “f***ing s**t!”
We put iPhone X’s facial recognition feature to the test, learned new ways to scare people【Pics】
Hamster steals iPhone’s mini futon
Just bought an iPhone 6? Keep it safe and stylish with a Sailor Moon case
Preorders begin for Attack on Titan iPhones cases