Toraya introduces "Tsuki to Wagashi" (Japanese sweets with the moon), a Japanese confectionery named after the moon and using chestnuts freshly harvested in 2021. A special menu will also be available at Toraya Saryo.

Toraya: The Moon and Wagashi

According to Toraya, autumn is the season when the air is clear and the moon shines brightly and beautifully. The fifteenth night of the eighth lunar month, which is the best moon of mid-autumn, is called "Imo Meizuki" (sweet potato moon) because it falls on the harvest season of taro, and the thirteenth night of the ninth lunar month is called "Kuri-Meizuki" (chestnut moon) because chestnuts are offered to the moon.

In 2021, the fifteenth night will be on September 21 and the thirteenth night on October 18. This time, Japanese sweets were prepared in accordance with the "moon" and "harvest" seasons.

Wagashi associated with the moon

Wagashi Can: Moon and Tiger," "Shin Sarashina," "Zangetsu," "Tsukiage no Banquet," "Yaoei," "Full Moon," and "Tsuki no Dawn" will be available. Each of them will be sold at different times of the year.

Wagashi Can: Moon and Tiger

The "Wagashi Can: Tsuki to Tora" is a limited-edition can designed in the motif of a tiger admiring the moon, and is filled with sweets suitable for moon viewing.

The contents of the can and the selling price differ depending on the time of the year: from September 15 to 30, each can is priced at 3,327 yen (tax included, same as below). The contents are as follows

Two small Yokans (Ogura) x 2
Kokatagayokan brown sugar x 1
1 x small Yokan powder, green tea x 1
1 x small Yokan jelly with honey
1 x black tea
2 pieces of "Yaei" zaichu
Baked cake with ginger "Zangetsu" x 2

From October 1 to 31, each can is priced at 3,780 yen. The contents are as follows

Small Yokan "Shin Chestnut" x 6
2 pieces of "Yaoei" zanzaka
Baked cake with ginger "Zangetsu" x 2

Seasonal Yokan "Shin Sarashina

Seasonal Yokan "Shin-Sarashina" is made of "Koshi An" (sweet red bean paste) and "Shinsarashina" (white bean paste), representing a mountain and the moon in the night sky, respectively. According to Toraya, Sarashina is located in the northern part of Shinano Province (present-day Nagano Prefecture), which has been famous since ancient times as the home of the famous moon. This design of a full moon over the deep mountains was also depicted in our confectionery sample book from the Taisho era (1912-1926).

The product will be on sale from early September to mid-October. The price is 3,888 yen per package for the bamboo skin wrappers and 1,944 yen per package for the medium-sized ones.

Baked cake with ginger "Zangetsu

Zangetsu" is a baked confection with ginger. The honey syrup on the surface of the dough reminds one of the moon at dawn with a light cloud over it. The firm, chewy crust is filled with a rich red bean paste, which is combined with a hint of ginger. It is sold all year round and priced at 303 yen per piece.

Tororo "Tsukishita no utage" (party under the moon)

Tororo "Gekka no utage" is a grated yam with a representation of a rabbit that rises from the grass and loves the moon. The moist dough made of tsukune sweet potato is filled with white azuki red bean paste made from rare white azuki beans.

It will be available at some stores in the Kanto, Chubu, and Kinki regions from September 16 to 30. Some stores in the Chubu and Kinki regions will also sell it from October 16 to 18. The retail price is 486 yen.

Monaka "Yaei

Yaekaka" is a round brown cake with a chrysanthemum-shaped skin and filled with Ogura-an (sweet red bean paste). According to Toraya, the name "Yaaka" is derived from "Yaaka no Tsuki" (moon in mid-autumn), as its shape looks like a full moon. It is sold year-round, priced at 216 yen per piece.

Special Yokan "Full Moon

Michiru Tsuki," a special yokan, represents the moon crossing the sky as if it were tracing the ridges of a mountain. The yokan is available from October 1 and will end when all the yokans are gone. It will be available at the Akasaka store, Kyoto Ichijo store, and online store. The price is 1,944 yen per piece.

Yokan with white azuki beans "Tsuki no Dawn

Tsuki no akatsuki" is a delicate colored product that reminds us of the light of the moon in the early morning. Made from Toraya's own variety of white azuki beans, "Fukutora Shiro", it is said to have a mild and elegant taste with a subtle bean flavor.

It is sold all year round and is available at the Akasaka store. Limited quantities available. The selling price is 4,536 yen per bottle.

Wagashi using chestnuts

Wagashi using chestnuts include "Chestnut Steamed Yokan", "New Chestnut", "Chestnut Powder Rice Cake", "Chestnut Shikanoko", "Chestnut Steamed Yokan", "Chestnut Meigetsu", and "Chestnut Goyomi". The sales period and other details differ for each.

Chestnut Steamed Yokan

Kurimushi Yokan" is an autumn-only product with the rich texture of steamed yokan and the rich flavor of fresh chestnuts. The price is 4,752 yen per piece for the bamboo skin wrapped package and 2,376 yen per piece for the medium size.

Small Yokan "New Chestnut

Shin-Guri" is a small yokan made of back-strained chestnuts and white bean paste. It will be on sale from October 1 to mid-November, and will be discontinued as soon as it is gone. It will be sold at all stores and priced at 368 yen per piece.

Fresh confectionery "Chestnut-flour rice cake

Nama-gashi "Kuriko-mochi" is made of back-strained chestnuts mixed with white bean paste, then topped with Gozen-an (red bean paste) wrapped in Gyuhi (Japanese rice flour). It will be on sale from early September to October 31, and can be purchased at stores that sell fresh confections. It will be available from early September through October 31, but will not be sold at the Gotemba store from October 16 to 18. The price is 584 yen.

Nama-gashi "Chestnut Shikanoko

Nama-gashi "Kurikanoko" (fresh confectionery) is made with white bean paste surrounded by honey-soaked chestnuts. It is available from early September to October 31 at stores that sell fresh confections. The selling price is 584 yen.

Nama-gashi "Chestnut Steamed Yokan

Chestnut Steamed Yokan" is a sweet bean paste with wheat flour and kudzu flour, steamed to preserve the flavor of fresh chestnuts. The price is 584 yen.

Nama-gashi "Chestnut Meigetsu

Nama-gashi "Kurimeigetsu (Chestnut Meigetsu)" is made with fresh chestnuts and wrapped in a sweet bean paste in the shape of a chakin-shibori (tea towel). You can enjoy the texture of the tightly packed chestnut red bean paste. It will be available at some stores in the Kanto and Kinki regions and at the Gotemba store from October 16 to 18 to coincide with the 13th night of the year. The selling price is 584 yen.

Seasonal Chestnut Joyomi

Seasonal confectionery "Kuri Goyomi" is made of only back-strained chestnuts, sugar, and agar, with the astringent skin left on to accentuate the flavor of chestnuts. It will be available from mid-September to mid-November, and is priced at 324 yen per piece.

Toraya Karyo's Special Menu

Toraya Karyo's special menu includes "Chestnut Ice" and "Chestnut Anmitsu".

Chestnut Ice

Kurigoori" is ice topped with wasanbon molasses and served with chestnut mizuyokan jelly and shiratama (white rice balls) reminiscent of tsukimi dango (moon-viewing dumplings). It is also sprinkled with ground chestnuts to resemble moonlight. It is served with chestnut red bean paste hidden in the bottom of the ice cream.

It will be on sale from late September to October 18. Available at Toraya Karyo's Akasaka store, Tokyo Midtown store, Imperial Hotel store, TORAYA TOKYO, Shinjuku Isetan, Yokohama Sogo, Kyoto Ichijo store, and Kyoto Shijo Nanza store. The retail price is 1,430 yen.

Chestnut Anmitsu

Chestnut Anmitsu" is an autumn-only dish with chestnut red bean paste, chestnut water yokan, and honey chestnuts made from chestnuts harvested in 2021. You can choose either white honey or wasanbon molasses.

It will be available from October 1 to November 30. Available at Tokyo Midtown, Imperial Hotel, TORAYA TOKYO, Shinjuku Isetan, Yokohama Sogo, Kyoto Ichijo, and Kyoto Shijo Nanza. The retail price is 1,540 yen.