BAKE Inc., a confectionery company that manages the freshly-baked cheese tart chain BAKE CHEESE TART and cream puff chain CROQUANTCHOU ZAKUZAKU, has announced the launching of a new brand.

Named “OIMON,” the brand will specialise in creating sweets made from local sweet potatoes, with the first branch opening at the new Gohobi Street zone inside Amu Plaza Kagoshima, a shopping complex connected directly to the JR side of Kagoshima-Chūō Station, on March 13, 2020.

What is OIMON?

OIMON is a new shop specialising in sweet potato confectionery whose concept is “Tradition x Innovation.” Its first branch is opening in Kagoshima, a prefecture that produces sweet potatoes and shochu from its warm climate. These traditional ingredients and methods will be combined with both Kagoshima’s contemporary food and food culture and BAKE Inc.’s design, flavours and preparation methods to create a new kind of local Kagoshima confectionery

Sweet potato cakes aplenty with Kagoshima flavour

Freshly-Baked Mini Mikan Sweet Potato Cake: Single Serving – ¥237 / Box of 5 – ¥1,188 / Box of 10 – ¥2,376 (Tax Included)

Freshly prepared in-store, you can pick from a single serving as well as a box of 5 or 10. The mini sweet potato cakes are inspired by gane, something taken from traditional Kagoshima cuisine. Gane refers to julienned sweet potatoes, but it also means “crab” in the Kagoshima dialect because the way it’s cut looks like a crab. The sliced sweet potatoes are wrapped and baked in a sweet potato paste to bite-size pieces.

The cakes are also soaked in caramel sauce, and their surface lathered in “Kosama Gin,” a craft gin made using lots of mikan oranges grown on Sakurajima in Kagoshima. Enjoy the delicious milky taste of the caramel coupled with the crunchy gane texture. The sweet potato paste is laced with powder made from the mikan oranges, adding a fresh and fruity flavour.

OIMON will promote Kagoshima to the rest of Japan

The brand colouring is a mix of beige and pink, reminiscent of Japanese sweet potatoes. OIMON went for a minimalist design to convey the simplicity of sweet potatoes. The logo is made up of round slices, also like round slices of sweet potato. The entire design conveys the fact that this is something from and exclusive to Kagoshima.

A special projection mapping show directed by NAKED is set to take place at Kyoto National Museum from March 6, 2020 to March 15, 2020. This breathtaking light performance is entitled “Light & Food Ensemble 2020 ~Evening Flower Banquet Directed by NAKED~”.

The special evening performance is part of the Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatourou 2020 event, which is centred around lanterns.

NAKED aims to bring new light on Kyoto’s gorgeous evenings with an incredible display of music, lights and projection mapping at Kyoto National Museum’s gardens. Lasting 10-15 minutes, projection mapping will spread cross the wall of the Meiji Kotokan Hallーan Important Cultural Property of Kyoto with a history spanning over 120 yearsーwith kaleidoscopic patterns including yuuzenzome, or “Yuzen silk printing,” which is used on kimono displayed in the museum.

Meiji Koyokan Hall has been protected since the Meiji Period. Spectators will be able to witness a story unfold of beautiful flowers over the generations through music and lighting.

The entire garden will be lit up and bring life to many great spots for taking photos. This special event will allow visitors to experience the cool spring evening like never before. It will also see the first ever display in collaboration with Oniwa Ueji, which has a 250+ year history and is part of Higashiyama’s culture.

There will also be food available to eat at the event full of the flavours of Kyoto. Enjoy ticking into dishes you won’t be able to taste anywhere else.

Disney princesses around the world won’t be able to resist the nine new cupcakes released at Ginza Cozy Corner last week in Japan.

The cupcake collection is being released to celebrate Hinamatsuri, a festival held annually in Japan on March 3, which prays for the well-being and healthy maturity of girls. The line-up can be enjoyed by child and adult Disney fans alike, and includes not only Disney princesses, but other female characters in the Disney cast. This includes Minnie Mouse, Belle, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Jasmine, and more.

Disney Girl’s Collection (Contains 9) – ¥2,700 (Tax Included)

These cute cupcakes look like they have come straight out of a Disney character toy box. They not only look pretty, but sound delicious too, like the raspberry Minnie cupcake, lemon-flavoured Belle cake, cheesecake Cinderella, and more.

Celebrate Hinamatsuri in Disney-style by picking up a box of these cupcakes at Ginza Cozy Corner.

Tsuke x Koji Haccomachi is a new cafe opening in the Sanjo area of Kyoto on February 22, 2020, that is centred entirely on fermented foods.

The name “Haccomachi” derives from the Japanese word Hakko (Hacco), meaning fermented, and Komachi (Comachi), meaning a beautiful woman. The cafe hopes for people to incorporate fermented foods into their livesーsomething which is rooted in Japanese food cultureーand live comfortably.

The cafe’s logo showcases the making of kōjiーa type of mould used in the fermentation process of certain food products in Japan, like soybeans. The logo hope to pass down this long upheld tradition.

Hakko fermentation is a major part of Japan’s food culture. Since ancient times, the sweetness and umami brought about by the enzymes in the fermentation process have served to accompany many foods in the country, such as miso, soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, and so onーall traditional condiments used in the Japanese kitchen that are still fundamental today.

The menu at Tsuke x Koji Haccomachi features a line-up of fermented foods made in Kyoto, including those from Kyoto-based soybean makers Fujiwara Shokuhin, Sawai Shoyu Honten which has produced the same high quality soy sauce for decades, sake brewery Kitagawa Honke which has been around since the Edo Period, and more.

A Small Look at the Menu

Lunch Menu

Haccomachi Special – Fermented Lunch Plate: ¥1,690

This lunch plate is an assortment of hors d’oeuvre made with fermented condiments, tandoori chicken that has been pickled to elevate the umami, marlin fish, soup, and more.

Dinner Menu

Spare Ribs On The Bone in Miso Yuan Yaki: ¥1,490

This hearty portion of spare ribs are marinated in a miso, mirin, and soy sauce mix. Taste the full umami flavour of the juicy meat.

Namerō Miso Salmon in Yoghurt Sauce: ¥770

The salmon is served namerō style, a type of tataki or pounding method, in miso. The yoghurt has both a refreshing and rich flavour.

Homemade Komekoji Rice Malt Sweet Sake Yoghurt: ¥470

The splitting of the sour yoghurt serves to elevate the sweetness of the sake. This is a drink that even those who don’t like sweet sake are sure to enjoy.

Cafe Menu

Miso Pound Cake w/ Vanilla Ice Cream: ¥550

The miso pound cake is a collaboration with Japanese confectionery company Sarasa, which has 6 branches of cafes and shops in Kyoto. It’s made using komekoji rice malt powder provided by an old-fashioned Japanese shop (菱六もやし). The umami of the miso is intensified, and the cake stays moist thanks to the powder. It’s served with a dollop of refreshing vanilla ice cream.

Blackcurrant & Vanilla Sweet Sake Affogato: ¥550

A unique spin on the affogato dessert which has you pouring hot sweet sake over tangy and refreshing blackcurrant sherbet and rich vanilla ice cream. Enjoy the mix of the hot sake and the cool ice cream.

Discover the Japanese tradition of fermentation at Tsuke x Koji Haccomachi, opening February 22, 2020.

Chiba Prefecture is one of the leading places in Japan for growing strawberries. Thanks to its warm climate, the prefecture enjoys hearty a strawberry harvest, which it celebrates with strawberry-picking events and markets across the prefecture. The true fun in strawberry picking in Chiba is that you get to taste a variety of different types, all ripe, there and then, so you can compare flavours.

To further promote the wonderful world of its succulent strawberries, Chiba Prefecture has set up a special website, and is also hosting a photo campaign entitled “Chiba Strawberry Fair 2020.” This is also the season to try an original type of strawberry grown in Chiba Prefecture called the “Chi-Ba Berry.”

Check out Strawberry Fields Chiba’s special website

The Strawberry Fields Chiba website has a wealth of information on strawberry varietiesーincluding the “Chi-Ba Berry”ーas well as places to pick strawberries in the prefecture, places selling strawberries, and more. If you’re interested in finding out more about strawberries in Chiba, then check out their website below.

Strawberry Fields Chiba Official Website: https://chiba-ichigo.jp

Chiba Strawberry Fair 2020

People who post a photo on Instagram of their time in Chiba enjoying the strawberries with the hashtag #ちばいちごフェア2020 (“Chiba Strawberry Fair 2020”) have the chance to win the above-pictured Chi-Ba Berry-kun plush toy. The campaign is running until February 29, 2020.

Strawberry picking season in Chiba runs until May, so if you’re planning a trip there this year, make sure you don’t leave without trying the prefecture’s famous strawberries.

McCafé by Barista branches of McDonald’s in Japan are set to release three new drinks on February 26, 2020, for a limited time: the “White Chocolate Strawberry Frappe,” “White Chocolate Strawberry Latte,” and “Iced White Chocolate Strawberry Latte.”

White Chocolate Strawberry Frappe – ¥490

The White Chocolate Strawberry Frappe is built up of a sauce made using fresh slices on strawberry and whipped cream, on top of which rests a refreshing milk base also mixed with strawberry sauce. Topping it all off is a squirt of fluffy whipped cream, a drizzle of strawberry sauce, and a sprinkling of white chocolate nibs. The aftertaste of this tasty dessert beverage leaves you feeling refreshed while satisfying your taste buds with its sweet flavour.

Iced White Chocolate Strawberry Latte – ¥390

White Chocolate Strawberry Latte – ¥390

The strawberry sauce and strawberry syrup used in the hot and iced versions of the White Chocolate Strawberry Latte are mixed together with fluffy foamed milk and cold milk to create a succulent strawberry milk. This is finished with whipped cream, more strawberry sauce, and plenty of white chocolate bits. Containing no coffee, these drinks enjoy the subtle sweetness of the white chocolate and the tangy-ness of the strawberry milk.

Refresh yourself this spring in Japan with a cup of McDonald’s new White Chocolate Strawberry drinks.

ART LAB KYOTO is the new museum shop set to open at Kyocera Museum of Art on March 21, 2020 in line with the revamp currently undergoing at the museum, with design work being co-created by Japanese architects Jun Aoki and Tezzo Nishizawa.

Kyoto is known as a hub of Japanese culture, managing to maintain traditions while constantly evolving. ART LAB KYOTO will embody everything about this idea when it opens after the museum’s revamp. The spacious shop will not only sell merchandise related to the exhibitions, but books and goods related to art from Kyoto both traditional and contemporary, items in collaboration with external artists, original and exclusive sweets, and more. ART LAB KYOTO will also host events promoting the diversity of art and culture in Kyoto.

American gourmet popcorn brand Garrett Popcorn Shops® has revealed its new cherry blossom pink coloured, strawberry and white chocolate flavoured popcorn “Very Berry White Chocolate,” along with the new “Garrett Sakura Tin”ーboth of which will be released tomorrow on February 15 in limited quantities.

Very Berry White Chocolate: Small ¥580/Medium ¥1,030/Large ¥1,670/Jumbo ¥3,300/Quarter Tin ¥1,700/1 Gallon Tin ¥4,300/2 Gallon Tin ¥8,250

Also released for spring last year to overwhelming popularity, the “Very Berry White Chocolate” popcorn takes Garrett Popcorn’s fruity, sweet and sour “Strawberry Caramel Crisp™” flavour, coats it in sweet white chocolate, and sprinkles it with strawberry flakes to create a truly succulent strawberry treat, which is made even more delicious with the milk white chocolate. Its pink colour also brings to mind images of Japan’s cherry blossoms.

Garrett Sakura Tin/Quarter Tin: From ¥1,130

The Garrett Sakura Tin has been sold every spring since 2014, and makes a return once again for 2020, covered in beautiful cherry blossoms in full bloom.

The pink-on-pink combination is a great Valentine’s Day present, for a springtime movie nightーwhatever takes your fancy!

If you thought we hadn’t covered enough desserts and food from Fukuoka already here on MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON, never fearーwe’ve got you covered with another tasty line-up for you. This time we’re looking at a list of 5 must-try strawberry desserts from Kyushu’s northern island, and we’re joined by Instagrammer moe who has provided us with some mouth-watering photos of each pick.

COFFEE COUNTY | Kurume

Kurasukoto | Hirao

DAIMYO SOFT CREAM | Hakata

Pinsirio | Kuromon

yorimichi | Kasuya

Japanese travel website Jalan, which has been running for 30 years, is collaborating with Tokyo station’s shopping centre GRANSTA for their third collaboration fair, which will run from February 15 – March 1, 2020. Travelling in Japan will be even more fun as the travel website’s adorable mascot Nyalan takes to the scene in a variety of delicious foods – just what every cat person kneads!

Even more shops are participating for the third fair, which is now stretching to cover shops at Ecute Tokyo and Ecute Keiyo Street. Everything at the fair cannot be purchased from anywhere else or at any other time. From bento lunches and sweet treats to merchandise, everything is based on Jalan’s adorable cat mascot Nyalan. The fair is full of the essentials to enhance the fun factor in your spring travels around Japan – fur real.

Nyalan Caramel Cream: ¥490 (Fairy Cake Fair) *Only at GRANSTA

Nyalan Paw-Shaped Bento: ¥880 *Only at GRANSTA

Amaou Strawberry Macaron and Nyalan Print Macaron: ¥648 (Pack of 2) *Only at DALLOYAU, GRANSTA

Nyalan Doughnuts: ¥420 Each, Shiretoko Doughnut, available at Ecute Keiyo Street only

If you love cats, spice up your life with Nyalan!

Hattendo is released a new flavour in its popular “Cream Bread” series last week that is served with Japanese Amaou strawberries. You’ll find them at the following Hattendo branches: ekimo Umeda, ekimo Tennoji, JR Sannomiya Station, Aeon Mall Okayama, and Sun Station Okayama.

The breads are made from a combination of custard cream which is cooked up everyday in-store, and a simple fresh cream, creating a smooth texture that just melts in your mouth. They come in five flavours: Custard, Fresh Cream & Custard, Chocolate, Matcha, and Adzuki.

Unlike regular Japanese cream bread, where the bread is baked after inserting the cream, the cream of this cream bread is injected inside after the bread is cooked like a cream puff dessert. It’s also left to set in the refrigerator to make the cream even more melt-in-the-mouth and to firm up the bread. The best way to describe it is to say that it’s like you’re eating cream, rather than eating bread. From the first bite, the cream fills your mouth with its refreshing taste and velvety texture.

The bread is also filled with sweet and sour a jam made from sweet Amaou strawberries, a brand from Fukuoka Prefecture, which mixes deliciously with the soft cream. The jam is made by Hattendo and has a very juicy and refreshing strawberry flavour.