If you take Eitai-dori St. toward Nihonbashi Intersection, you will find Chiyodabashi in front of Showa-dori. When Eitai-dori St. was built in a large-scale reconstruction plan after the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923), it was built as a bridge across the Kaede River, which was flowing here at the time.
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It is said that Tokiwagi, a Japanese confectionery, founded along the Kaede River in 1910, so it was more than 10 years before Chiyodabashi was built. He once moved the shop along Showa-dori, but then returned to his current location. The current wrapping paper is marked as "Chiyoda Hashi Tokiwaki", and you can feel the history of continuing to carve.
Currently, the third generation, a friendly couple is taking over the shop.
▲The word "Chiyoda Hashi" is written on Tokiwaki's wrapping paper.
Mr. Tokiwaki doesn't have any sweets lined up in the showcase. You will see several kinds of Japanese sweets placed in a heavy box, and customers will choose from them. It seems that it is a sales method that has been continued since its founding.
▲I spread it on the lower table to make it easier to take pictures.
Until May, "Kashiwamochi", flowers are "Botan" Japanese sweets, "Mizuyokan" in June, flowers are "Ayame" sweets, etc. The pleasure of visiting the store will increase in expectations for new products in the box.
▲The lineup of this day
▲June is the season of water yokan!
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This time, I would like to introduce the original Japanese sweets "Wakashi" that I purchased at the end of May. It is a very young purple sweet made from red beans, hand-made beans, and sugar.
▲The illustration of a girl drawn by printmaker Hisaya Fukuda is wonderful!
The disappointing thing is that we use coloring (red No. 3). These tar pigments, which are prohibited from being used in food in some countries in the United States and Europe. If you don't use this, I wonder if the beautiful color of "Wakamurai" will come out.
However, the texture and elegant sweetness that ephemeral but melting in the mouth are products that you want to taste at least once, even if you are not a Japanese confectionery fan.
You need to make a reservation for the purchase of this "Wakamurai". You can receive it on Thursday and Friday the week following the day you booked.
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When you open the box, you can see a rectangular young purple confectionery spread all over it. It contains 15 pieces of geometric cut. This is an image of the shape of an old woman's kimono sleeve, as shown in the illustration drawn on a box hanging paper.
▲This shape! How do you cut it?
How do you make it? You can see how it is hardened into a rectangular shape of the box. The problem is how to cut it. Even though each shape is different, the volume looks the same. If you look at the cut, you can see how the blade is inserted. It may be a cut-out type made by inserting a blade into a rectangular plate, or a cut-off with a fixed piano wire stretched according to the shape to be cut. .. For that purpose, the sharp angle has a solid shape, and Umm. ...
▲A piece of "Wakapuri"
When I went to receive the booked "Wakashi", I was surprised to ask how to do it! As expected, the skill of a master! Oh, I'll keep it secret.
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When you purchase "Wakashi", actually look at the cut and imagine how to do it. And enjoy the elegant sweetness and texture of this sweets. I recommend sencha which is slightly darker, but it goes well with black coffee. Also, I think it is ideal as a souvenir for loved ones.
Next time, I'm going to buy a black bun.
※"Wakamurai" does not seem to be made during the hot summer months. Please check with the store when you purchase it.
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▲The shop quietly walks a little from the main street.‥‥
Store name: Toshikigi
Address: 1-15-4, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
TEL： 03-3271-9180
Business hours 9:30～17:30
Regular holidays: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
2,750 yen (tax included), 3,300 yen (tax included)
