In Tobetsu, a town right next to Sapporo, there's a long-established confectionery shop specializing in Japanese and Western sweets that will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary. It's called "Okashi no Fujisawa" (hereafter Fujisawa). For the residents of Tobetsu, the taste of Fujisawa is a familiar delight. Let us share its charm with you!

Fujisawa was founded in 1925 (the 14th year of the Taisho era). Starting with traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi), the shop gradually expanded its offerings to include bread and Western-style pastries. Amazingly, for the past 30 years, they have also been providing school lunches for all of Tobetsu's elementary and junior high schools.

Now in its third generation, the shop continues to uphold tradition while keenly sensing what modern times demand, tirelessly developing new products. The numerous awards Fujisawa's products have won over the years are surely a testament to this spirit of inquiry.

You must be curious about what kind of products they have, right? The shop is filled with a truly vast selection of sweets, but here we'll introduce some of the most popular and recommended items.

First up is their signature product, "Ezo Warabi Mochi." Made with a blend of bracken starch and yubeshi, it has a unique texture that's different from conventional warabi mochi. It has a satisfyingly chewy bite, with walnuts adding a delightful accent, all perfectly matched with the roasted soybean flour (kinako) coating. This would make a wonderful souvenir.

The "Mikazuki Manju" (Crescent Moon Manju) lineup, including the exceptionally large and hefty "Chuka Manju," as well as flavors like zunda (sweet edamame paste) and sesame paste, is also very popular. This type of sweet is apparently called "Chuka Manju" in the Tohoku region and further north, often evoking a sense of nostalgia for older customers. By the way, doesn't its shape, with the slightly upturned ends, pique your curiosity?

In fact, during the Hokkaido pioneering era, it was Lord Date Kuninao, a descendant of the famous "One-Eyed Dragon" Date Masamune, who settled in Tobetsu. As the name Mikazuki Manju suggests, the sweet is made in the image of the crescent moon on Masamune's helmet. The slightly salty sweet bean paste is a distinctive feature of Fujisawa.

A favorite among all ages is the "Domin no Mori." It features a chestnut-filled bean paste wrapped in a firm pie crust. Incidentally, Domin no Mori is the name of a real, large-scale forest park in Tobetsu, one of the largest in the country.

A great gift idea is the "Ishikari-gawa Yokan." Not only is it named after the Ishikari River, but it's made with beet sugar from Hokkaido, and even includes a "Hamanasu" (Japanese rose) variety using puree from the rose hips. It's no wonder this is a highly popular item in the Furusato Nozei (Hometown Tax Donation Program).

Here's what they look like inside. From the left in the photo are "Chestnut," "Hamanasu," "Neri" (smooth bean paste), "Azuki" (red bean), and "Matcha." The texture varies with each flavor, so it's fun to compare them.

So far, we've focused on Japanese sweets, but Fujisawa's Western-style pastries are also amazing! The chiffon cake is especially recommended. You might be surprised to learn it's a gluten-free cake made with rice flour and soy milk instead of wheat flour.

Tasting it is even more surprising! Even knowing it's wheat-free, you'll find yourself wondering, "Really?" It's so fluffy and moist, just like a conventional chiffon cake. In fact, it's an incredibly delicious, high-quality chiffon cake!

There are various flavors, so you'll never get bored. From the left in the photo are "Plain," "Blueberry," "Coffee," and "Strawberry." What's more, their commitment to ingredients is exceptional, using blueberries and strawberries harvested in Tobetsu, and coffee roasted at a local café.

So, what did you think of our recommended products from Fujisawa? Of course, this is just a small selection. When you actually step inside the shop, you'll find so many sweets that you'll want to let out a cry of delight.

We hope you'll use our recommendations as a guide and find your own favorite treat.