Henry’s Pizza in Osaka a love letter to New York, signed by a few famous fans

Two slices of pizza on paper plates rest on a tray.

The pepperoni slice is the showstopper at Henry's Pizza in Osaka, Japan. There are no frills here. Just a classic done right. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

Near a quiet corner of Osaka’s Tanimachi neighborhood — just a stroll away from the city’s famous castle — sits a pizzeria that feels like it was airlifted straight out of Brooklyn.

But this isn’t the Big Apple. It’s Henry’s Pizza, and it might just serve the best New York-style slice in Japan.

This three-story shop is minimalist and unpretentious — white tiles, stainless steel counters, a glowing oven, and a playlist that veers from Billie Eilish to Billy Idol. There’s no faux-New York kitsch here. Henry’s lets the crust and toppings do the talking.

And people are listening. Recent customers include pop stars Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams, Tyla, and Blackpink members Rose’ and Jennie. Henry’s was delivered backstage ahead of Green Day’s performance in Osaka in February. Billie Joe Armstrong, in a social media video, called it “the best New York pizza in all of Japan.”

A blond woman and dark-haired man eat pizza.

Pop stars Rose’ of Blackpink and Bruno Mars are among the many celebrity customers of Henry’s Pizza in Osaka, Japan. (Instagram)

Two men hold a pizza box with “Henry’s” printed on it.

Billie Joe Armstrong, left, and Tre' Cool of Green Day sing the praises of Henry's Pizza in Osaka, Japan. (Instagram)

The pizza itself lives up to the hype. The crust walks that holy line between chewy and crispy, folding just right. The sauce is tart and tomato-rich, and the cheese tastes like a blend of mozzarella and provolone.

The pepperoni slice — 550 yen, or about $3.85 — is the showstopper. There are no frills here — no corn, mayonnaise or seaweed. Just a classic done right.

While Henry’s specializes in slices, you can also get a whole pie. A special birthday pizza — with “Happy Birthday” carefully spelled out in pepperoni — was delivered to a table near mine.

The crust at Henry's Pizza walks that holy line between chewy and crispy, folding just right. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes)

An art gallery on the third floor called Rise Above was closed during my visit. Henry’s is the brainchild of graphic artist Verdy, of Girls Don’t Cry fame, according to an article on eyescream.jp, a Japanese fashion, music, art and culture website.

“The Henry in Henry’s Pizza is apparently named after Henry Rollins (of Black Flag),” the report said. “This is where you can definitely feel Verdy’s roots.”