Tama-Yōkan

Idea confectionery born from the pursuit of functionality during the war

Many of you may have seen “Tama-Yōkan” made by “Tamashimaya” in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. This cute water balloon-like yokan in a rubber bag was created in 1937, the year the Sino-Japanese War began. At the time, Tamashimaya was asked by the military and the prefecture to wrap yokan in a rubber sachet and create a bite-sized package so that people in the war zone could enjoy soft yokan anytime.

When it was first developed, it was called “Hinomaru Yokan,” but when the store reopened after the war, it was renamed “Tama-Yōkan” after its shape and the name of the store to get rid of the militaristic image.

I took a little video of the opening.

Like this, it is fun to prick it open with a toothpick.

It is also a little transparent like a mizu-yokan, and tastes very refreshing as yokan eaten in one bite.

It has a full-bodied sweetness, but is light and smooth. Tama-yokan” looks cute and is fun to open, making it a perfect souvenir item.