There are many top-quality bakeries scattered around Tokyo, but only one can claim to be run by a renowned former tennis player.
Kimiko Date, a Kyoto native who peaked as a world No. 4 and was a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist, realized one of her long-term ambitions three years ago when she opened Frau Krumm across from the Shibuya River in Ebisu. The shop's focus is on German bread and pastries, though there's also a mix of French and Japanese products as well.
"My love of bread began when I started touring Europe in my late teens," Date says. "Up until then I was only into Japanese food, but as I discovered these amazing bakeries and cafes, my tastes changed. Each time I went to a new city, I'd try to find new places. After getting married (to German professional racing driver, Michael Krumm), my appreciation of bread grew stronger. Rather than just searching for shops, I began to consider running my own one."
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