History of Yakitori Yakitori is a recent phenomenon in the long history of Japan. There are records of it dating to the Edo period but it is more commonly known from the Meji period as a street food. Eating meat gradually became known to people as new customs from Europe were introduced to Japan as part of the Meiji Restoration. Chicken also began to be eaten but only as an exclusive dish served at restaurants. For common people, unused parts of chicken meat from restaurant