Hello everyone,
In July, we held our “Petit Wagashi Workshop” twice. Here’s a little report on how it went.
July 6th＠Kyoto
This was our very first lesson held at a venue in Kyoto.
Although I was a bit unsure at first using unfamiliar equipment, I managed to get everything set up and we got started without a hitch. We began with an explanation of the ingredients, then moved on to kneading the dough.
During the next step—wrapping the sweet bean paste—everyone chatted and enjoyed the process in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Even first-time participants seemed to have fun as they worked with their hands.
Once the dumplings were wrapped, we boiled them for about 7–8 minutes and then cooled them in ice water. While waiting, everyone took part in the Fumanjū Quiz I had prepared.
Actually, the quiz we did during the workshop turned out to be a learning experience for me as well. I discovered for the first time that fumanjū (wheat gluten dumplings) didn’t originate from a wagashi shop, but from a nama-fu (raw gluten) maker in Kyoto. It was a fascinating piece of information.
After the quiz, we moved on to wrapping the dumplings in bamboo leaves. Since I’ve been doing this since my apprenticeship days, it feels second nature to me—but for many participants, it was their first time. As I shared some tips and we worked on it together, I heard lots of happy comments like “This is so fun!”
It reminded me again that wagashi-making isn’t just about the sweets themselves—it’s also about the beauty and enjoyment found in each part of the process, like the wrapping.
The lesson ended smoothly, and I felt a great sense of relief and satisfaction.
July 21st＠Itami
Next up was our workshop in Itami City. It was our very first fully booked session, and while I felt a little nervous beforehand, everything went smoothly on the day.
This time, many families joined us, and after wrapping the sweet bean paste, everyone enjoyed shaping their wagashi freely using their own imagination.
The children’s creativity was truly impressive—it made the experience all the more fun for me as well.
The quiz time was a big hit, and the entire room was filled with a warm, cheerful atmosphere.
During the final tasting session, I heard happy exclamations of “Delicious!” from all around.
I believe it turned out to be a memorable part of everyone’s summer break.
Thankfully, both workshops went off without any major problems, and we were able to finish successfully.
To everyone who participated—thank you so much!
I hope to continue sharing the beauty of seasonal wagashi with even more people and help them discover the charm of this traditional craft.
Please look forward to our next workshop!