In the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, it played a role as a staple diet and in the Showa period 'mojimonjayaki' (a type of Japanese pan-fried batter with various ingredients) eaten by coating it with Worcester sauce or 'issen yoshoku' (literally, one cent Western food) became popular as the way of making up for food insecurity.
大正12年の関東大震災の際には主食的位置を占め、昭和になると東京ではウスターソースを塗って食べる「文字もんじゃ焼き」や「一銭洋食」が食料不足を補う方法としてもてはやされるようになる。