Traditional Japanese sweets, or wagashi, are a part of Japan's unique food

              culture. They come in many varieties, also offering diversity of flavors.

              Because of their beautiful colors and the Japanese feeling they provide,

              they are also booming among international tourists in Japan.

　　Wagashi are frequently served

　　during traditional seasonal events

　　in Japan. This allows one to feel

　　the seasons when eating the

　　sweets.

　With wagashi that are cute or that

　are almost like works of art, it is a

　pleasure just to visually appreciate

　at these sweets.

　As wagashi use relatively less

　fat that Western confectionery,

　they are low in calories and

　very healthy.

The ties between wagashi and traditional events in the Japanese calendar have been strong since times of old.

This custom still remains in many events today. Today, we would like to introduce some representative events

together with the wagashi that are served on these occasions.

　　　　　　　　　January 1st. The New Year arrives and everyone

　　　　　　　　　prays for a year of health and happiness.

March 3rd. Dolls are put on display in a wish that

girls will grow up healthy.

　　　　　　　　　The equinoxes in the spring and fall. Japanese

　　　　　　　　　visit the graves of their ancestors or hold memorial

　　　　　　　　　services.

May 5th. Carp streamers and dolls are displayed

in a wish that boys will grow up healthy and

succeed in life.

　　　　　　　　　The 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar

　　　　　　　　　calendar. While watching the full moon, offerings

　　　　　　　　　are made of tsukimi dumplings or chestnuts and

　　　　　　　　　tubers that were harvested that year.　　　　　　

November 15th. Boys aged three and five,

together with girls aged three and seven, visit

Shinto shrineson November 15th to celebrate

their growth.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Manju Buns

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Manju buns are the outstanding example of steamed wagashi.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A part of Japanese life since times of old, they appear in legends

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　and rakugo comic storytelling and are used as offerings on

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Buddhist family altars. Easy to eat, they are a popular kind of

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　wagashi found in tourist areas.

　　　　　　　　　　　　Rice Crackers

　　　　　　　　　　　　The best example of savory wagashi is rice crackers. They come in

　　　　　　　　different varieties included soy sauce-flavored crackersand salad-

　　　　　　　　flavored crackers. What makes them popular among international

　　　　　　　　visitors is their hard texture and that they are easy to eat.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Red Bean-Jam Rice Cakes

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Just like rice crackers, rice cakes appear to be a quite addictive

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　kind of wagashi for their chewy texture. They come in many

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　varieties, including the cute strawberry daifuku and sakura-mochi,

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　and are popular among women and men alike.

　　　　　　　　　　　　Dumplings

　　　　　　　　　　　　A common kind of dumpling is mitarashi dumplings, which

　　　　　　　　comprise several small, round rice cakes skewered on a stick.

　　　　　　　　Mitarashi dumplings can become a bit addictive for their sweet

　　　　　　　　and sour taste and are highly popular as they can often not be

　　　　　　　　enjoyed overseas.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Sweetened Bean Jelly

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Sweetened bean jelly is a kind of wagashi that has been loved

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by common folk since times of old. It comes in different varieties

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　such as red bean, white bean, or matcha.

　　　　　　　　　　　　Sugar Candy

　　　　　　　　　　　　This pea-sized wagashi has little bulges of sugar on its bumpy

　　　　　　　　surface and comes in different colors and sizes.