Wagashi Pix

Daifuku is a Japanese confection consisting of a small round glutinous rice cake stuffed with sweet filling.

This daifuku is made from purple sweet potato, which is familiar as an autumn vegetable in Japan.
All the vivid colors like purple and yellow are totally natural.
Outside the daifuku is coated with purple potato powder.

Inside the daifuku is filled with sweetened potato paste. Beautiful golden yellow!

Ingredients:
Sugar, purple sweet potato, rice flour

Shop’s website:
Furuyakoganean’s homepage (Japanese)
Furuyakoganean’s homepage (English translated by Google)

This is Hachinoya’s summer wagashi only offered in this season.
Not only it looks like a broad bean or a soybean, but it’s also made of sweetened red bean paste covered with white bean paste. (Bean lovers have got to try this.)

Beans inside a basket. So cute!

Ingredients:
Sugar, azuki-bean(red), otebo-bean(white), egg, glutinous starch syrup, butter, fresh cream, rice flour, sweet sake

Shop’s website:
Hachinoya’s homepage (Japanese)
Hachinoya’s homepage (English translated by Google)

“Children’s Day” is a Japanese national holiday which takes place annually on May 5. This day was celebrated in order to wish the healthy growth and happiness of the boys in the family.

In Japan, carp is believed as a symbol of strength and courage. Therefore, we have custom of hanging out Koinobori (carp streamers) on a tall pole on Children’s Day to pray that boys in the house will take after carp and live their lives strongly.

The wagashi in the photo is a special Children’s Day treat modeled after the carp streamers.
This type of wagashi is originally known as Ayu (sweetfish) which is very familiar during the summer season. Sweet rice cake and bean paste are covered with a thin pancake-like skin.

Japanese seems to love molding confection into fish (such as taiyaki). Our love into fish is quite amazing!

Shop information:
Tsuruya Yoshinobu’s homepage (Japanese)
Tsuruya Yoshinobu’s homepage (English translated by Google)

I’ve been addicted to having sakuramochi this Spring.
They were so beautiful and yummy… I miss them so much!

See the first post about Sakuramochi.
The sakuramochi in the photo represents the Kansai (western) style.

Shop information:
Minamoto Kitchoan’s homepage (Japanese)
Minamoto Kitchoan’s homepage (English translated by Google)

See the first post about Sakuramochi.
The sakuramochi in the photo represents the Kansai (western) style.

Shop information:
Hontakasagoya’s homepage (Japanese)
Hontakasagoya’s homepage (English translated by Google)