For many years, "morimoto" has been a beloved and classic souvenir brand from Hokkaido. Their sweets and breads, made with local Hokkaido ingredients, including their signature confectionery "Kita no Chiisana Cake Haskap Jewelry," are highly popular not only with Hokkaido locals but also with tourists. This time, as morimoto celebrates its 77th anniversary, we'll introduce four of their most popular sweets perfect for souvenirs, along with the story of the company. We'll also check out a product exclusive to New Chitose Airport.

This year, morimoto celebrates its 77th anniversary. It all began when Yoshio Morimoto, who repatriated from Sakhalin, opened a small bread and confectionery shop in Chitose. Driven by the belief that "in the post-war era when food was scarce, we must broaden our diet by eating bread instead of relying solely on rice," he expanded his business with the then-unusual three pillars: Japanese sweets, Western confectionery, and bread.

In the early days, he would sell items like baked pastries with bean paste filling, made on a makeshift iron plate he had found. Thanks to his efforts, the shop gained a reputation, mainly among locals, and became so popular that it would sell out of products by around 3 p.m. every day.

Once the business was on track, morimoto focused on creating sweets that were uniquely "morimoto." After developing new products, they arrived at the idea of creating confections inspired by their local Chitose. Through trial and error, they perfected what is now their signature creation, "Haskap Jewelry."

Haskap is a rare, special fruit native only to certain areas in Hokkaido, such as the Yufutsu Plain and the Chitose area. "It has a tart flavor and a beautiful bluish-purple color, and I really wanted to use it in sweets," Mr. Morimoto thought. He devised "Haskap Jewelry" by sandwiching a jam, made by simmering haskap berries whole including the skins, between cookies and coating the edges with chocolate to prevent the jam from leaking. It was later served as an in-flight meal on domestic flights and quickly grew to become one of Hokkaido's most representative confections.

In this way, morimoto makes its sweets and breads by taking advantage of the fact that Hokkaido is a treasure trove of wonderful ingredients. In particular, Chitose has delicious water and easy access to materials from all over the prefecture. They told us, "Because Hokkaido's ingredients have such high potential, we are dedicated to bringing out their natural deliciousness and continue to develop products that convey the charm of Hokkaido."

"Kita no Chiisana Cake Haskap Jewelry (4 pieces)" from 1,280 yen

"Kita no Chiisana Cake Haskap Jewelry" is a delightful treat where four elements—haskap jam, thin butter cookies, special buttercream, and a chocolate trim—come together to create a perfect balance of tartness and richness.

While it may not be familiar to those outside of Hokkaido, haskap is a fruit that has been growing wild in Hokkaido for centuries. Its name comes from the Ainu word "hashkap," meaning "things that grow in abundance on branches." The harvest season is short, lasting only about a month from late June to late July. As it's rarely seen in markets, it's known as a precious fruit even to Hokkaido locals.

The small, delicate berries are like jewels themselves. They are so fragile that they can be damaged by the slightest touch, which is why they are still harvested by hand today. It has been 48 years since "Kita no Chiisana Cake Haskap Jewelry" was first created. In the beginning, there were few haskap farmers, so the artisans had to harvest wild haskap berries themselves to make the sweets.

To ensure customers can enjoy the most delicious harmony of flavors, the product requires refrigeration. "If someone's first encounter with the still relatively unknown haskap berry is through 'Haskap Jewelry,' they will surely want to learn more about it," says a company spokesperson. This is one of morimoto's proudest sweets, having won the Prime Minister's Award at the 20th National Confectionery Exposition in Tokyo.

"Yukizuru (Assortment of 2 flavors, 5 pieces)" from 1,100 yen

In morimoto's nearly 80-year history, the longest-selling product is "Yukizuru," a light-textured bouchée filled with buttercream. It was created in 1972 with the desire to make a local confection that everyone, from children to the elderly, could enjoy.

The buttercream, made with Hokkaido butter, has a rich flavor. The bouchée is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. It can be a bit crumbly, but that's part of its charm. Enjoy its delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

There are two flavors: "Butter Cream" and "Haskap Cream." The "Butter Cream" contains cheese, which adds a salty accent. The "Haskap Cream," on the other hand, is a blend of the pleasant tartness of haskap and buttercream, and is popular for its uniquely "morimoto" taste.

The distinctive crane packaging was designed by Mari Yamazaki, the author of the manga "Thermae Romae." Yamazaki, who spent her childhood in Chitose, had been eating Yukizuru since it was first released and was a fan. She created the design as a highlight for the company's 65th anniversary, and it has been the beloved face of "Yukizuru" for over 10 years.

"Kita no Sanpomichi Haskap (8 pieces)" from 1,180 yen

While "Haskap Jewelry" requires refrigeration, "Kita no Sanpomichi Haskap" was created in response to long-standing requests for "a product that can be stored at room temperature and is easy to give as a souvenir."

The "Kita no Sanpomichi" series is a sweet that combines cookies, chocolate, and a confiture made from Hokkaido-grown fruit. Between the cookie made with Hokkaido wheat and the haskap chocolate lies a luscious confiture. One bite fills your mouth with the refreshing taste of haskap. Since it can be carried at room temperature, it's a perfect item for giving out to many people at the office or to friends. This product has also won the Honorary President's Award at the National Confectionery Exposition.

"Haskap Jewelry Trio (6 pieces)" 2,260 yen

If you're buying "Haskap Jewelry" at New Chitose Airport, the "Haskap Jewelry Trio" is highly recommended. While "Haskap Jewelry" is usually sold in an assortment of two types, the airport exclusively offers a six-piece box containing two pieces of three different types.

The box includes the original "Haskap Jewelry," the mellow "Haskap Jewelry White Version" trimmed with milky white chocolate, and the popular "Premium Black," which features a combination of black cocoa cookies and a jam that delivers a direct burst of haskap tartness.

This set, which allows you to compare three different flavors, is sold exclusively at the "morimoto New Chitose Airport Store" on the 2nd floor of the International Terminal Building.

*All prices listed include tax.
*Information is current as of the article's publication date.
*Information may change. Please check the official website for the latest details.