A wide variety of Japanese snacks – What Australians have enjoyed with world-famous characters | Hint-Pot

Japan is adept at flexibly incorporating the cultures of various countries and evolving on its own while preserving its traditions. Especially when it comes to food, the wide variety and variety of choices are appealing. An Australian woman I met at Nishiki Market in Kyoto was enjoying a twist on sweets that are familiar to Japanese people. What kind of sweets are they?

◇ ◇ ◇

A classic arrangement: world-famous characters turned into Japanese snacks

Nishiki Market is known as the “kitchen of Kyoto” and is visited by not only locals but also many tourists looking for the flavors of Kyoto. There, I met Mitchell and Jessica, two Australians who were visiting Japan for the second time.

Two people who love Japanese ramen,Visit your favorite chain stores and famous storesHe seems to be enjoying it. And here at Nishiki Market, I took a break from eating ramen and was in the middle of eating snacks.

“Sorry, I was in the middle of eating (lol)”

While saying this, he showed me a sweet that was shaped like the face of Snoopy, a popular character from the cartoon “Peanuts.” When Jessica actually tasted it, she said that it was very similar to a certain Japanese sweet.

“I ate something similar before. It was shaped like a fish… Yes, taiyaki. But the inside of the taiyaki was red bean paste.”

Taiyaki has been loved by Japanese people for a long time. These days, there are many variations in shape, but today's taiyaki is said to be an arrangement of Imagawayaki, which has been around since the Edo period, into the auspicious Thai shape. Perhaps it's the Japanese way of thinking about changing not only the flavor but also the shape and expanding the ways to enjoy it.

The two apparently bought a “Snoopyaki,'' a taiyaki-like taiyaki in the shape of Snoopy, at “SNOOPY Chaya,'' a themed cafe in Nishiki Market that combines Snoopy and Japanese style. The filling is not filled with red bean paste, but custard cream.

“I think this custard version is more palatable to us,” Jessica said. Jessica was eating from his ears and Mitchell was eating from his nose. There is a debate among Japanese people about whether to eat taiyaki from the head or the tail, and this is a heart-warming reminder of exactly that.

The couple tasted Japanese snacks with familiar characters and familiar flavors. Please enjoy Japanese food that can be arranged to the fullest.

(Hint-Pot Editorial Department)