Ryoma Monogatari

Great impact with Sakamoto Ryoma printed on the package.

”Ryoma Monogatari”, meaning Sakamoto Ryoma story,  made by Nishikawa-ya, an old shop in Kochi Prefecture, who is also famous for manufacturing ‘Kenpi’ , is a so-called chocolate manju, a sweet bun.  The package design has a great impact with a picture of Ryoma Sakamoto.

It is said that the chocolate manju is made for a reason because of a rumor, saying Sakamoto Ryoma might have eaten chocolate among the Western culture that flowed into Japan around the time of the Meiji Restoration. It is an interesting idea.

Incidentally, Nishikawa-ya also produces another unique manju (bun) called “Kazutoyo-no-Tsuma(Kazutoyo’s wife)” which is tied to the history of Tosa.

Citrus bean paste, made from Konatsu, a speciality of Tosa,  is filled in.

The combination of chocolate flavored manju dough and citrus red bean paste give the manju a Western confectionery-like. It has a sense of concept, fitting that the motif is based on Ryoma Sakamoto, who played a major role in the turning point of the era when Western culture entered Japan.