From Prisoner of War Camp to National Treat: The Enduring Legacy of Baumkuchen in Japan
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A beloved symbol of longevity and prosperity in Japan, the layered “tree cake” known as Baumkuchen has a surprisingly poignant origin story rooted in the hardships of war and the resilience of the human spirit. What began as a culinary experiment by a German prisoner of war over a century ago has blossomed into a national obsession, enjoyed at weddings, birthdays, and celebrated with dedicated festivals.
A German Tradition Takes Root in Japan
Today, Baumkuchen – meaning “tree cake” in German, due to its distinctive rings resembling a tree trunk – is a ubiquitous sight in Japan. From luxury department stores offering elegantly boxed gifts to convenience stores selling individually wrapped portions, the sweet treat caters to all tastes and budgets. Modern adaptations incorporating local flavors like maccha and sweet potato demonstrate its deep integration into Japanese culinary culture.
However, the story of Baumkuchen in Japan is inextricably linked to a period of global conflict and natural disaster.
The Story of Karl Juchheim: Baking Through Hardship
The introduction of Baumkuchen to Japan is credited to Karl Juchheim, a German confectioner who found himself a prisoner of war on the small island of Ninoshima, a 20-minute ferry ride from Hiroshima. Juchheim, who had been running a bakery in Qingdao, China, when captured by Japanese forces in 1915, arrived on Ninoshima in 1917 with approximately 500 other German POWs.
Despite the constraints of his imprisonment, Juchheim was permitted a degree of freedom, including the ability to cook. It was on Ninoshima that he began perfecting his Baumkuchen recipe, baking the layered cake over a charcoal fire. “His baking was an expression of his wish for peace,” stated Kazuaki Otani, head of the Juchheim Ninoshima Welcome Center.
From POW Camp to Commercial Success
Following the end of World War I in 1918, Juchheim and around 200 fellow POWs chose to remain in Japan. In March 1919, he debuted his Baumkuchen at the Hiroshima Prefectural Products Exhibition, where it quickly gained popularity. Historical records show the handmade cake drew large crowds of enthusiastic Japanese visitors.
Juchheim subsequently opened a pastry shop in Yokohama in 1922. Though destroyed by the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake, he persevered, relocating to Kobe and establishing a coffee shop that served his signature Baumkuchen. Even the devastation of World War II – including the U.S. firebombing of Kobe just two months before the war’s end – could not extinguish his entrepreneurial spirit.
Juchheim Co., Ltd., founded with the support of his wife Elise and dedicated Japanese staff, continues to thrive today as one of Japan’s leading confectioners. Tragically, Juchheim himself died of illness in Kobe on August 14, 1945, just one day before Japan’s official surrender.
A Shadow of Tragedy: Ninoshima’s Wartime Past
The story of Baumkuchen in Japan is interwoven with the profound suffering of the war years. Ninoshima, beyond its role as a POW camp, served as a military quarantine station during Japan’s period of militarist expansion. Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, the island became a temporary shelter for approximately 10,000 severely injured victims. Sadly, the vast majority succumbed to their injuries, and many of their remains remain unidentified to this day.
Today, the Juchheim Ninoshima Welcome Center and Outdoor Activity Camp stands on the site of the former prisoner of war camp, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about the island’s complex history and even participate in Baumkuchen-making workshops. As visitors pour batter onto bamboo poles and experience the traditional baking process, they are also encouraged to reflect on the enduring importance of peace.
By sharing the stories of the past, Otani hopes to inspire a deeper understanding of the human cost of conflict and the power of resilience, all embodied in a single, delicious slice of Baumkuchen.
