Saigyō-manjū

Long-established Japanese sweets loved by historical figures

Shinkine Confectionery, which has had a store in Oiso Town, Kanagawa Prefecture since 1894, is famous for its “Saigyō-manjū” a manju loved by many famous people in history, including Shimazaki Tōson, one of the most famous authors of modern Japanese literature, and Yoshida Shigeru, the prime minister of Japan after the war.

It is characterized by its very fine and smooth texture. The contrast between the simple branding of “Saigyo” and the manju dough gives it a traditional appearance.

Inside is a generous amount of koshi an (sweet bean paste), which also has a very fine texture.

It is very simple, but has a taste of perfection and balance. Incidentally, Shimazaki Tōson was a regular customer who frequented this Shinkine confectionery store, and during the war, he was so close to the store that he even had his books kept on the second floor. The historical back story may be the secret of the deep flavor of this “Saigyo Manju”.