Yesterday, there was a joint press conference for “Tookashi,” the sweets offered during the Toka Mairi ritual at Nishinomiya Shrine.
Now then, let’s get right to it.
The wagashi artisans Nishinomiya is proud of↓
目次
- 1 “Tookashi” are wagashi for Nishinomiya Shrine’s Toka Mairi
- 2 The “Tookashi” handed out change every month!
- 3 They’ll also be sold at Okame Chaya inside Nishinomiya Shrine
- 4 Of course, they’ll also be sold at each shop
- 5 This year, they’ll be sold at Nishinomiya Hankyu
- 6 The 10th of every month is Tookashi Day
“Tookashi” are wagashi for Nishinomiya Shrine’s Toka Mairi
Nishinomiya Shrine is famous for Toka Ebisu in January, but actually, it holds a festival called “Toka Mairi” on the 10th of every month. The wagashi offered before the deity at that time are called “Tookashi.”
And those “Tookashi” are handed out to everyone who attends the “Toka Mairi.”
“Tookashi” are handed out for free to up to 180 people on the 10th of every month. It really does feel like a blessing from Ebessan.
The Toka Mairi ceremony starts at 10:00 a.m. It seems the venue opens at around 9:30.
The “Tookashi” handed out change every month!
The “Tookashi” handed out from April each year change every month.
From April through March of the following year, excluding January, the wagashi change monthly across 11 occasions.
April 10 (Wed) Aoyama Kasho “Ebisu Daifuku”
A soft daifuku made with yomogi mugwort and millet. It feels like it could bring you great fortune. Apparently there are hidden characters on the inner wrapping paper too.
May 10 (Fri) Chidoriya Soke “Ebessan・Tai”
A cute Ebessan. He’s holding bamboo leaves for prosperous business. Next to him is a sea bream.
Ah, Ebessan got eaten.
Aaaaaah.
June 10 (Mon) Takayamado “Medetai Mikasa”
An auspicious mikasa marked with a sea bream branding iron. It has soft, chewy gyuhi inside.
July 10 (Wed) Okinakaho “Ebisu Mochi・Fuku-dama”
The Ebisu Mochi topped with kinako contains walnuts. The green Fuku-dama is a chewy mochi sweet with a matcha flavor.
Nishitsu @ Mii, looking seriously excited.
August 10 (Sat) Taniya Seian “Ebisu Kintsuba”
Believe it or not, the kintsuba contains sake lees! Nishinomiya is a sake town, after all. Next to it is kintsuba with chestnuts.
Nishitsu @ Mii immediately takes a bite.
September 10 (Tue) Onkashitsukasa Shogetsudo “Medetai・Takarabune”
The sea bream is nerikiri with smooth bean paste, and the treasure boat is a joyo manju, the type used for red-and-white celebratory manju.
October 10 (Thu) Kohaku “Treasure Box”
The gourd apparently uses Nishinomiya’s local sake. The treasure boat in the middle tastes like marron glacé and has the texture of nama chocolate.
Nishitsu @ Mii, savoring pure bliss.
November 10 (Sun) Kaichijo Eikyudo Yoshimune “Keidai・Tai”
The sea bream is so cute that many people may not be able to bring themselves to eat it. In the back is a joyo manju with a design that seems to represent the shrine grounds.
December 10 (Tue) Kimieido Honpo “Tokiwa no Miya”
One is a baked sweet with raisin dough wrapped around chunky bean paste, and the brown sugar dough version has white bean paste with raisins and is dusted with cinnamon.
February 10 (Mon) Amakara no Sekijuan “Omiki Manju”
The dough is kneaded with Ozeki daiginjo sake. It contains no alcohol, so you can enjoy it without worry.
March 10 (Tue) Naritaya “Ebisu Mai”
Ebessan-shaped monaka. The filling apparently changes by month among “Ogura,” “chunky bean paste,” and “smooth bean paste.” The red-and-white monaka has yuzu and cherry blossom honey bean paste.
Every single one is full of character and looks delicious!
They’ll also be sold at Okame Chaya inside Nishinomiya Shrine
If you miss out on the free distribution limited to 180 people, or if you simply really want to try one, don’t worry. At “Okame Chaya” inside the Nishinomiya Shrine grounds, 30 of that month’s “Tookashi” will be sold in limited quantities.
Of course, they’ll also be sold at each shop
On the 10th of every month, each shop sells its own “Tookashi.” Even if it’s a different month, you can still buy them, so that’s good to know.
Also, the “Early Summer Tookashi Festival” is held around June, and the “Autumn Tookashi Festival” around November, inside the Nishinomiya Shrine grounds, where the sweets are sold. That’s your chance to buy all 11 kinds of “Tookashi.” If you love wagashi, those are definitely dates to aim for.
This year, they’ll be sold at Nishinomiya Hankyu
On the 10th of every month except January, it seems the monthly “Tookashi” will be sold in a limited quantity of 20 at “Meika Meihin Nihon no Aji” in the 1st-floor food section of Nishinomiya Hankyu.
The 10th of every month is Tookashi Day
The “Tookashi Project” was launched mainly by the Nishinomiya Wagashi Brand Promotion Project Executive Committee, which promotes Nishinomiya’s wagashi.
Members of the Nishinomiya Wagashi Brand Promotion Project Committee↓
Naritaya, Taniya Seian, and Kaichijo Eikyudo Yoshimune, which we’ve covered on Nishitsu, are also members of the “Tookashi Project”!
You can find Tooka on the Nishinomiya Wagashi Brand Promotion Project Committee website.
