Murasuzume (Sparrow)

A signature representing confection of Kurashiki ,a Japanese-style crepe filled with sweet red bean paste

“Murasuzume,” first made by Kikkodo in the early Meiji period (1877) in Kurashiki City in Okayama Prefecture, is a famous confection,  and is a traditional treat that has long been beloved as Kurashiki’s signature confection.

A sweet red bean paste is wrapped in a thin dough made from flour and eggs and it is folded.  This has been made in the same way over 100 years.

Naming “Murasuzume”, meaning sparrow, derives from how the surface of the dough looks like.  There are many holes resemble a flock of sparrows gathered around ears of rice.  The yellow dough looks more like a small crepe.

The light, fluffy batter is filled with plenty of chunky red bean paste, and it does indeed have a crepe-like structure.

The light, subtly sweet filling and the simple, rustic texture of the batter are perfectly balanced, and it creates a delicate and refined taste. While it feels like a traditional Japanese confection that would pair well with a strong cup of tea. If added a bit of whipped cream on the confectionery, it would feel natual to be sold in Harajuku.  It is essentially a Japanese-style crepe that’s been made in Japan for over 100 years.