As a special edition of "Today's Item," a daily series introducing products recommended by our editorial staff, we are introducing "Tokyo souvenirs" selected by people in the fashion and beauty industry, running until July 31st. This is the season when many opportunities arise to prepare gifts for seasonal greetings or when returning home. If you're having trouble deciding what to bring, please refer to this list of exceptional products that have been highly recommended by our connoisseurs.
Today's selection is by Yokoyama Tatsuya, director of FASHION HEADLINE. We will be introducing the fried monaka (fried wafers) from Nakazato Confectionery in Komagome, Tokyo. Nakazato is a long-established Japanese confectionery shop that was founded in 1873 in Nihonbashi and has been operating in the same location since moving to Komagome in 1923.
The signature product, "Age Monaka," was invented by Suzuki Yoshikichi, the fourth-generation owner, in the early Showa period. It is a round, thick Monaka like a rice cracker, deep-fried in sesame oil and sprinkled with roasted salt from Izu Oshima, and is filled with a bean paste made from adzuki beans from Tokachi, Hokkaido. It is a unique and original product that is a departure from the usual Monaka. "The refined sweetness, enhanced by the moderate amount of salt, and the fragrant aroma of sesame oil are addictive" (Yokoyama). The current owner preserves the traditional taste and techniques by hand-making each one. And despite being a sweet that has been passed down for many years, its modern appearance makes it unique and sure to be a welcome gift.
"It's recommended not only for fans of Japanese sweets, but also for those who don't eat them very often. It's a mysterious deep-fried monaka that pairs well with alcohol, such as whiskey. I chose it with the image of a situation like meeting your father who lives far away for the first time in a long time and eating it while sharing a drink" (Yokoyama)
In addition to being available at the main store in Komagome and the Daimaru Tokyo store, it is also sold once a week at Nihonbashi Takashimaya, Shinjuku Takashimaya, Tamagawa Takashimaya, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Ginza Mitsukoshi, Seibu Ikebukuro Main Store and Sogo Chiba store. The days on which it is sold vary by store.
