Before the Doll's Festival on the 3rd of next month, a long-established confectionery store in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, is making traditional "Hina candy" to decorate with Hina dolls.
In the Shonai region of Yamagata Prefecture, colorful "Hina sweets" in the shape of fruits and vegetables have long been popular as Japanese sweets to be displayed with Hina dolls at the Hina Matsuri.
At a long-established confectionery store in Tsuruoka City, which has been in business for over 130 years, 15 craftsmen worked from 9 am on the 18th.
The craftsmen mixed glutinous rice with white bean paste and wrapped the bean paste in a colored dough such as orange to shape it into oranges.
In addition, the surface of the chicks, which are shaped like cucumbers and cherries, was finished with agar to give them a glossy finish.
There are a total of 19 types of chicks made at this confectionery store, including fruits and lucky charms, Tsuruoka's traditional vegetables, Dadacha beans and Onkai turnips.
Ryuichi Yoshino, president of the confectionery store, said, "I am making it with all my heart, hoping for the healthy growth of girls for the new spring. I want them to see, eat and enjoy themselves."
The making of "Hina Confectionery" will continue until the 1st of next month, and it will be sold in Yamagata Prefecture, mainly in the Shonai region, and will be shipped nationwide if ordered.