Preserving Tradition
An Elderly Senbei Maker's Struggles
While on a business trip in Tokyo, an encounter with a handmade Japanese senbei shop unfolded. The proprietor, a straightforward and sincere elderly gentleman, shared that he had devoted seven decades to this craft. However, in recent times, he found himself lacking the vigor to bake senbei at home and, unfortunately, had no one to impart his invaluable skills to.
Expressing a sense of nostalgia, he mentioned, "If you had arrived a decade earlier, I could have supplied you with senbei." The predicament faced by small establishments on the outskirts of the capital echoed the challenges encountered by businesses in other modest cities. The elderly artisan lamented that the younger generation of Japanese individuals no longer had an appetite for these "hard pancakes," contributing to the gradual disappearance of unique Japanese culinary treasures.
Every Taste and Story, All in One Box
By Seki-Seika Hompo
Matcha Cream Senbei
Seki-Seika Hompo is a Kyoto-based confectionery shop with a history spanning over 100 years.
One of their most popular treats is this matcha cream senbei. It features a rich matcha cream, created without the use of any artificial flavors or colors, sandwiched between crunchy wafers made from rice.
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Allergens: egg, wheat, milk, soy
May contains: honey
Vegetarian
By Tokunaga Seika
Ichigo Milk Mame
In addition to their Saika Toridori, Tokunaga Seika presently offers a diverse range of bean confections, totaling around 60 different varieties. Their Ichigo Milk Mame (strawberry milk beans) stand out as their number one favorite.
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Allergens: wheat, milk, peanuts, soy
Vegetarian
By Penguin
Black Shichimi Fried Ginkgo
This snack is found at Kyoto Station, which is frequented by a large number of foreign tourists. It features Gion Hararyokaku, which is black shichimi, which has been produced in Kyoto for over 300 years. While shichimi typically has a red color, the one from hararyokaku turns black because the ingredients are finely ground.
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Allergens: soy, sesame, wheat
May contains: ginkgo
By Fukui Engei
Mochipon
Mochi Mugi is rich in dietary fiber and has a digestive benefit. The list of ingredients only includes Mochi Mugi and sugar. No seasonings, additives, or preservatives are used whatsoever. It’s said that consuming it for breakfast can lead to a sustained diet effect throughout the day.
You can enjoy it as a topping in various dishes.
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Allergens: wheat
Vegan
By Minami-Shinshu Kashi Kobo
Hitokuchi Apple & Mango
The Minami-Shinshu Kashi Kobo’s factory is located in Achi Village, which is often referred to as the village closest to the starry sky in Japan. They use fruits that are typically discarded due to blemishes or irregular shapes as ingredients for their products. Hitokuchi Apple uses Fuji apples from Nagano Prefecture and their mangoes are sourced from Peru.
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Vegan
By A&A
Okara & Rice Sablé
Okara is the leftover part after squeezing soy milk from soybeans during tofu production. It’s rich in the flavors of soy, as well as protein and dietary fiber, making it a nutritious and healthy food. Additionally, this sablé uses rice flour instead of wheat flour, making it naturally gluten free.
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Allergens: soy
Vegan
By le mauve
Boules de Neige
Boules de neige, a relatively common French pastry, is prepared by sprinkling it with kinako powder, a popular seasoning used in Japanese confectionery. At le mauve, they have implemented a system of employment support to aid the social inclusion of individuals with disabilities. These boules de neige snacks are meticulously handmade by individuals with disabilities, which helps them to be able to actively participate in society.
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Allergens: egg, flour, wheat
May contains: almonds
Vegetarian
By Kobe Nuts Yui
Tiramisu Almonds & Black Sesame Almonds
Carefully selected large almonds are coated with sweet and fragrant tiramisu chocolate.
They pair perfectly with a hint of bitter cocoa powder. Despite their appearance resembling dinosaur eggs, these black sesame-flavored chocolate almonds have a gentle yet delightful taste.
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Allergens: milk, sesame
May contains: almonds
By Tokunaga Seika
Saika Toridori
This snack contains 15 varieties of vegetable and fruit chips, including sweet potatoes, green beans, pumpkin, carrots, as well as apples, bananas, and more. The contents may vary depending on the season. It’s perfect for those who intend to consume a variety of vegetables and fruits but tend to lean towards a few specific types.
Tokunaga Seika is a confectionery manufacturer with a history spanning over 140 years.
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Allergens: soy
Vegan
By Yahata Eino
Kakogawa Snack Pasta
Yahata Eino, located in Kakogawa City in Hyogo Prefecture, produces pasta using Seto Duure. This is a pure domestically-grown durum wheat that Yahata Eino successfully cultivated for the first time in Japan. During cultivation, they do not use the herbicide glyphosate, making it healthier for consumption. This snack version of pasta primarily utilizes the cut-off ends of pasta produced for packaging.
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Allergens: wheat
Vegetarian
By Toraya-Yoshisue
Tarugata Senbei
Toraya-Yoshisue was founded in 1801. Originally, the company was a manufacturer of sake barrels. However, they came up with the idea of creating senbei shaped like sake barrels to serve as souvenirs for travelers. These senbei featured the trademarks of 18 sake breweries in Kobe as part of their design.
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Allergens: egg, wheat
Vegetarian
By Kobe Nuts Yui
Yamagata Green Soybeans
A green soybean refers to a type of soybean that remains green even when it has matured. It can only be grown in the Tohoku region and in Hokkaido in Japan. Green soybeans have lower fat content compared to regular soybeans and are rich in vitamins C and E, as well as iron, making them beneficial for beauty and skincare.
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Allergens: soy
Vegan
by NEVERS
Gluten-Free Cut Baum
In this baumkuchen, Japanese-grown Yamadanishiki rice is used instead of wheat flour. It has a moister and chewier texture compared to baumkuchen made with wheat flour. And, of course, it’s gluten free. The factory is located in a naturally rich area called Kai-gun in Gifu Prefecture. It’s a confectionery created with clean water and air.
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Allergens: egg, milk, soy
May contains: almonds
Vegetarian
By Mugen∞Yasou
Black Bean Tea
This black soybean tea uses cracked beans, which would have been discarded despite having no issues in its quality. These beans simply crack naturally during the roasting process. To avoid waste, it is sold as is. Since it isn't wasted, people can take advantage of their unique flavor and health benefits.
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Common allergens: soy
Also contains: N/A
Vegan
By Kaga Kensetsu
Bocha: Ginger Blend
Bocha is a type of Japanese roasted green tea, and it differs from the typical roasted green tea made from tea leaves as it uses the stem portion, which has not been traditionally utilized. Kaga Kensetsu's Bocha is blended with ginger, creating a unique flavor profile.
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Common allergens: N/A
Also contains: N/A
Vegan
