In Japanese Food Culture and Japanese Sweets, we introduce not only Japanese sweets but also general sweets that are made in Japan and loved in Japan.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) website has a comprehensive listing of wagashi (Japanese confectionery).

External website   

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries History of Wagashi Various Wagashi

https://www.maff.go.jp/j/pr/aff/2002/spe2_01.html

Ryosan Dorayaki with chestnuts, a limited edition product sold at Katsushika Iseya

These dorayaki are branded with Ryosan's branding from the "Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo" manga and anime.

External website Iseya Kameari

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~wy8s-stu/

Above: Ginza WEST, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo LeafPie LeafPie is a long-selling product.

Not long ago, many of you probably stood in line at a store in Ginza to buy one.

External website Ginza West

https://www.ginza-west.co.jp/index.html

Above: "Number Sugar"

Handmade caramels with 12 different flavors.

Shockingly, the caramels stretch when freshly made!

External site  Number Sugar

http://numbersugar.jp/

It is a Japanese sweet that has been difficult to buy for the past several years, with long lines at every store.

Sold out in the online store, no product listing and not available for purchase (May 2022).

AUDREY's most popular “Gracia”

Right: Milk 

Left: Chocolate

Both Audrey's locations have long lines of customers waiting in line for "Gracia".

With freeze-dried "strawberries", crispy langue de chat dough, and moderate sweetness, it is easy to understand why they are so popular.

AUDREY's "Hello Berry"

It is shaped like a strawberry. It is a very tasty white chocolate accented with the sourness of dried strawberries. The strawberry's stem is a cookie.

External site Audrey's Online Shop (No products listed due to popularity, as of March 2022)

https://www.audrey-strawberry.com/

External site  My Recommend (products can be viewed)

https://myrecommend.jp/sweets-31/

Chocolate Artesanal  AURORA

TABASCO SPICY CHOCOLATE 

I was afraid to try the spicy Tabasco flavored chocolate, but it is strangely addictive and delicious.

It is difficult to describe in a few words what “Japanese food culture and Japanese sweets!” are all about. There are so many varieties that it is honestly impossible to write about them all.

In recent years, a number of Japanese and Western sweets have appeared, which are difficult to categorize simply into "Japanese sweets" and "Western sweets”.

In addition to the fine techniques unique to Japan, I feel that attentiveness and ideas, ingredients that match the season, colors and shapes that remind us of the four seasons, and the spirit of "hospitality through sweets" are the main characteristics of Japanese food culture and Japanese sweets.