Giving confectionary as gifts automatically sparks lively conversation. We talked to three celebrities active in the world of traditional culture about Tokyo confectionary that is “a joy to receive” and “sure to please as a gift.”
[Coverage and composition: Sayaka Nakamura]
A joy to receive “Ozawa Yogashiten (Western Confectionary Shop) – Strawberry Chande”
About two, or perhaps three years ago, I first got to know this confection when it was delivered to my dressing room by someone who had watched the performance. I hadn’t heard of the shop until then, but when I get the urge to eat something sweet, I have someone from our office go and pick up some confectionary.
I’ve always liked fresh cream. I especially like simple fresh cream confections. Strawberry Chande is also a simple confection with a strawberry set on a cookie base and covered in chocolate. There’s no way that fresh cream coated in chocolate wouldn’t be delicious. I like chocolate too, so this is a “combination of three of my favorite things.”
Ages ago, there was a time when I used to make confectionary myself, and I used to make short cake by baking sponge dough. I found it really hard to whip fresh cream. I remember having a hard time getting the cream to just the right stiff consistency.
Ozawa Yogashiten
[Location] 3-22-9 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
[Access] 7-minute walk from Hongo Sanchome station on the Toei Oedo Line and Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line
[TEL] 03-3815-9554
[Business hours/fixed holidays]
9:40 – 19:30 (18:30 on Saturdays) / Sundays and national holidays
The ideal gift “Ginza Sembikiya – Deluxe Jelly”
Ginza Sembikiya – Ginza Main Fruit Shop
[Location] 5-5-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
[Access] Near Exit B5 from Ginza station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Ginza Line and Marunouchi Line
[TEL] 03-3572-0101
[Business hours/fixed holidays]
10:00 – 20:00 (11:00 – 18:00 on Sundays and national holidays) / Year end and New Year’s holiday
[Official site] https://ginza-sembikiya.jp/
Matsuya Onoe/Kabuki actor. Born in Tokyo in 1985. Stage name: Otowaya. Making his first appearance on stage under the name Matsuya Onoe (second generation) in 1990, he has supervised his yearly gala program entitled “Idomu (challenge)” since 2009. He performs diverse roles ranging from leading roles in period pieces to the role of Yupa in “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” and has also appeared in numerous musicals and dramas.
A joy to receive “SEIKOTEI – Walnut Cookie”
SEIKOTEI
[Location] 2-30-3 Uehara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
*Walnut Cookies are also sold at Matsuya Ginza, Isetan Shinjuku Store, Terminals 1 and 2 at Haneda Airport and other stores
[Access] 10-minute walk from Yoyogi Uehara station on the Odakyu Line and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
[TEL] 03-3468-2178
[Business hours/fixed holidays] 11:00 – 19:00 / Open year round
[Official site] https://www.seikotei.jp/
The ideal gift “Tops – Chocolate Cake”
Tops
[Location] Products sold at shops including the Ginza Shop, the Daimaru Tokyo and Terminals 1 and 2 at Haneda Airport
[TEL] 03-3710-2161 (Customer enquiries)
[Official site] https://www.akasaka-tops.co.jp/
Yukari Yoshihara/Professional Igo player. Born in Tokyo, Ms. Yoshihara started playing Igo at the age of six, becoming professional in 1996 and attaining the rank of 6th dan in 2013. Ms. Yoshihara supervised the production of “Hikaru no Go (Hikaru’s Go),” a popular cartoon that created an Igo boom and also acted as Igo advisor for the long-running NHK drama “Atsuhime (Princess Atsu).”
A joy to receive “Tokyo Kaikan – Marron Chantilly”
Tokyo Kaikan “Sweets & Gifts”
[Location] 1F Tokyo Kaikan Main Building, 3-2-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
[Access] Directly linked with exit B5 of Nijubashimae <Marunouchi> Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
[TEL] 03-3215-2015
[Business hours/fixed holidays] 10.00 – 20:00 / Open year round
[Official site] https://www.kaikan.co.jp/sweets_gift/index.html
The ideal gift “Reiganjima Baikatei – Assorted Wagashi (Japanese confectionary)”
Reiganjima - Baikatei
[Location] 2-1-4 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
[Access] 3-minute walk from Kayabacho station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and Hibiya Line
[TEL] 03-3551-4660
[Official site] https://www.baikatei.asia/
Hisafumi Iwashita/Writer. Born in 1961 in Kumamoto Prefecture, Mr. Iwashita made his debut with “Geisharon (Discourse on Geisha),” winning the 20th Tetsuro Watsuji Prize for Culture in 2007. Other works include “Hitamen – Encounters of Yukio Mishima with Women.” Mr. Iwashita has worked for many years at the Shinbashi Theater and is well-versed in fields such as Karyukai and traditional culture.