Do you know the shogi player "Ooyama Yasuharu"?
Ooyama Yasuharu is a shogi player born in Kurashiki, who created unprecedented records one after another and lived solely for shogi.
There was a wagashi (Japanese sweets) shop in Kurashiki Takasuga that expressed the passionate feelings of such a master through confectionery.
The name of the wagashi shop is "Bunkindo" (hereafter, Bunkindo).
Bunkindo offers sweets filled with local love and unique creative wagashi, and we will introduce the charm of Bunkindo.
What is Bunkindo?
Bunkindo is located about 7 minutes west by car from Chayamachi Station.
The surroundings are filled with rice fields, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
The entrance of the shop is fully glassed, allowing visibility from the outside.
The roof is open, providing a sense of spaciousness.
There is a bench at the entrance of the shop, perfect for taking a break.
Sweets in the shop
Inside the shop, various sweets are lined up, including the shop's specialty "Ooyama Meijin Monaka," "Oborozuki," "Hanaigusa," and "Castella."
Ooyama Meijin Monaka
The "Ooyama Meijin Monaka" is the signature sweet of Bunkindo.
It is shaped like a shogi piece called "Fu" and is a monaka filled with sweet red bean paste made from carefully simmered large adzuki beans.
The specific variety of adzuki beans used is called "Dainagon."
This variety is distinguished from regular adzuki beans and has characteristics such as being less likely to burst when cooked.
Moreover, this monaka embodies the passionate sentiment of Ooyama Yasuharu, who was born in Kurashiki, with the saying "To turn a pawn into a gold piece, one must make efforts step by step."
Fresh Cream Daifuku
The assortment of Fresh Cream Daifuku includes four types: "Cheese Daifuku," "Café au Lait Daifuku," "Strawberry Au Lait Daifuku," and "Lemon Au Lait Daifuku."
They are provided in a frozen state for delicious consumption.
It is recommended to eat them partially thawed, and they lasted about two days when stored in the refrigerator.
All of them were delicious, but the author's recommendation is the "Café au Lait Daifuku."
Café au Lait Daifuku is the most popular daifuku product at Bunkindo.
The soft mochi perfectly matches the slight bitterness of the coffee bean paste and the creaminess of the fresh cream.
I would like to have it again.
Scenes of confectionery making
I observed the actual scenes of confectionery making.
This is the scene of making grape daifuku.
The photo shows muscat grapes being wrapped in bean paste.
As can be seen from the photo, they were using quite large muscat grapes.
These large muscat grapes are not always available, so they do not make them every day.
The muscat wrapped in bean paste is then wrapped in mochi.
When observed in action, they wrapped quickly with efficient movements, resulting in beautifully rounded daifuku.
I witnessed the skills of the artisans.
I enjoyed the freshly made grape daifuku on the spot.
Looking at the cross-section, it was almost entirely muscat.
When I tasted it, the muscat was large and very satisfying.
The bean paste had a refined sweetness that complemented the muscat without overpowering it.
Halloween Sweets
Since the interview was conducted in October, there were also sweets themed for Halloween.
At Bunkindo, in addition to traditional sweets, they also create sweets for events like Halloween and Christmas.
Not only are they delicious, but they are also visually enjoyable.
Children and women would surely be delighted.
It was a very valuable experience to actually see the scenes of confectionery making right in front of me.
Surrounded by rural scenery, Bunkindo offers a variety of wagashi to enjoy in a peaceful setting.
I spoke with the representative director, Oosaki Kantatsu, and the executive director, Oosaki Takahiro, of Bunkindo.
Company Data of Bunkindo
| Name | Bunkindo Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Address | 155-6 Takasuga, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-482-0986 |
| Parking | Available Parking for 6 cars |
| Business Hours | 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Wednesday Second Tuesday is a holiday |
| Payment Methods |
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| Reservation Availability | Yes |
| Smoking | Completely Non-Smoking |
| Restroom | No Restroom |
| Website | Wagashi Shop Bunkindo in Kurashiki, Chayamachi, Hayashima, and Takasuga |
