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I’d like to visit a place where the hospitality and flavors have remained unchanged
for decades and even centuries.
Long, long ago, the people who ate at the same table might have thought similar things to us.
Close your eyes because it’s so delicious, and you might just time‑travel…
Today, we’ll introduce “ICHIROAN” in Nezy, Tokyo.
｜History
ICHIROAN founded in 1903 is a Japanese confectionery shop with over 120 years of history.
｜Open
Around the time ICHIROAN was founded, SOSEKI NATSUME, who had returned from studying in England, took over the position of lecturer in the English Department at Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo), succeeding YAKUMO KOIZUMI (Lafcadio Hearn). However, SOSEKI’s lectures, emphasized logicand grammar, differed in teaching style from YAKUMO’s lectures, prioritized sensibility and emotion. It is said that some students, in protest against YAKUMO’s dismissal, boycotted SOSEKI’s classes. At that time, SOSEKI, who loved sweets, is said to have stopped by ICHIROAN almost every day to eat MONAKA, DORAYAKI, and other sweets. SOSEKI’s love of sweets was so great that even in his later years, when he suffered from diabetes, he would still go and find the YOKAN (sweet bean jelly) that his family had hidden to prevent him from overeating, all out of concern for his health. There is also a theory that SOSEKI’s masterpiece “WAGAHAI WA NEKO DE ARU”, published in 1905, was inspired by a cat of ICHIROAN.
*SOSEKI NATSUME: One of the most famous and influential novelists in Japanese history, who is best known for novels like “WAGAGAI WA NEKO DE ARU (I Am a Cat)” and “KOKORO (The Heart of Things)”.
*YAKUMO KOIZUMI: His real name is Lafcadio Hearn. An international writer born in Greece who became a naturalized Japanese citizen, who deeply loved Japanese culture and traditions. His most famous work is “KWAIDAN (Ghost Stories)”, a collection of traditional Japanese ghost stories.
｜About 1903
The year 1903, when ICHIROAN was founded, was also the year the Wright Brothers successfully achieved the world’s first powered flight in North Carolina, USA. The “Wright Flyer,” piloted by the younger brother Orville, flew approximately 36 meters in 12 seconds.
In Japan, the 5th National Industrial Exhibition, a government-sponsored event during the Meiji era aimed at introducing foreign technology and promoting domestic industry, was held in Osaka. Illuminations were installed at the venue, and for the first time, the exposition was open at night.
The OBAYASHI Tower, equipped with an elevator, also attracted attention, and it is said that over 5.3 million people visited during the five-month exhibition period.
It is also said that in that year the state-adopted textbook system for elementary schools, aimed at standardizing education, helped stabilize textbook prices and contributed to an increase in school enrollment rates.
Also in that year, Hibiya Park of Japan’s first Western-style park opened, and Japan’s first public beer garden opened at Azumabashi Bridge on the Sumida River in Tokyo.
｜ICHIROAN
｜MISOMAN (MISO MANJU)
At ICHIROAN, they make 15 to 20 kinds of WAGASHI (traditional Japanese sweets) for each of the 24 solar terms (the year is divided into four seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and each season is further divided into six parts). Since one solar term lasts about two weeks, that amounts to 400 different kinds per year.
Just as when it was founded, they continue to use natural ingredients and handcraft their products, keeping the sweetness to a minimum to bring out the natural flavors of the ingredients. They don’t use any artificial sweeteners, antioxidants, or other additives, and even the colorings are natural. For this reason, they only sell their products in person, which gives them a special, exclusive feel.
While it’s well-known that NATSUME SOSEKI was fond of DORAYAKI and MONAKA at ICHIROAN,
there is actually one more: the “MISOMAN”, a steamed bun made with wheat flour mixed with miso, filled with smooth red bean paste. The subtle aroma of miso and the flavorful red bean paste make it an exquisite treat.
｜Information
ICHIROAN
Address：2-14-9 Mukogaoka Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Phone：03-3823-1365
Access：Todaimae Station(N12; Tokyo Metro NAMBOKU Line) 5min walk,
Nezu Station(C14; Tokyo Metro CHIYODA Line) or SENDAGI Station(C15; Tokyo Metro CHIYODA Line) 7min walk
Website：https://www.wagashi.or.jp/tokyo_link/shop/1110.htm
◆CONTACT
https://miya-ds.com/en/contact/
◆TRIAL LESSON
https://miya-ds.com/en/trialsession/
◆JAPANESE DANCE SCHOOL MIYA
https://miya-ds.com/en/
◆MIYANAGI RYU
https://www.miyanagiryu.com
