Wagashi means japanese traditional sweets that commonly made out of mochi and azuki (red beans). Japanese people usually eat them during their tea time with green tea. Wagashi has many kind but one of the typical wagashi is called, manjyu, a red bean paste steamed white bun. However this time we, Fun! Japan editorial team found out that Awaya Sobey, a traditional wagashi store sell manjyu and other wagashi with cute shape. Go Japanese all about the cuteness culture. From Rilakkuma to kitten, We are going to introduce you a series of cute manjyu you should bring your home!

Rilakkuma manjyu


https://www.facebook.com/awaya.japan/

Their website literary says, “the collaboration of Rilakkuma and wagashi.” Their tradition meets the Tokyo cawaii culture. They are not only cute but also legitimate. Rilakkuma manjyu are all made by watashi artisans. Without skilled craftsmanship, rilakkuma manjyu cannot be completed. Since they are all handmade by artisans, all of them have different face. You can feel the warmth of artisans from each face of rilakkuma. The manjyu comes with 4 kinds; rilakkuma, korilakkuma, ichigo dorayaki, and kiiroitori manjyu. They also make rilakkuma dorayaki, red bean pancake with rilakkuma shape.

Little Twin Stars, Kiki&Lala


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Popular sanrio characters became wagashi as well. Awaya Sobay created the world of Little Twin Stars with wagashi. They made an expend series of wagashi. Fluffy manjyu with animals that appear in Little Twin Stars’ story, star-shaped pastel-colored dorayaki, red-bean pancakes and star-shaped pastel-colored monaka, red-bean crispy rice sandwich.


https://www.facebook.com/awaya.japan/

For this series, you see cuteness not only from the pastries but also from each package. This should be the perfect souvenir for your friends.

Brown


https://www.facebook.com/awaya.japan/

Our favorite charactor, Brown is in a dorayaki shape. Honey flavor cake brings mild taste to the dorayaki with red-bean paste and sweet mochi.

Kitten manjyu


https://www.facebook.com/awaya.japan/

In Japan, old says cats bring happiness and protect from evil. This cute kitten manjyu was created to bring happiness to the people who receive. Same as rilakkuma manjyu, all are made by artisans so the taste is authentic even with the look. The kitten manjyu is a part of their animal series and other animals are lion, pig, rabbit, dog, and chicken.