Q: Is this a kaiten-yaki? Or is this Imagawa-yaki?
So, what’s the answer?
The answer is that both are correct! (sorry)
In the Kanto region, they are mainly called Imagawa-yaki. Other names such as Ooban-yaki (大判焼) and Gozasorou (御座候) are also used, and seem to vary from region to region.
Why Imagawa-yaki?
Now why does Imagawa-yaki have this name? It was first sold by Yasuya Yahei (那須屋弥平), a confectioner from the Edo period, according to the ‘Fukiji Zai (冨貴地座位)’*. It was sold near the Kanda Imagawa Bridge in Edo Kanda, hence the name.
Imagawa-yaki became more popular in the Meiji era and is mentioned in Natsume Soseki’s novel ‘Nowaki (野分)’.
Delicious red bean paste shop
Japanese anko (sweet bean paste) confectionery has been a much loved snack for commoners in Japan. Anko is a very simple food made from azuki beans, sugar and water, but its deeply moving flavour is one of the most fascinating aspects of traditional Japanese food.
Reference: ‘Encyclopaedia:Wagashi no sekai’ by Nakayama Keiko, Iwanami Shoten.
‘Sekai daihyakka jiten’, Heibonsha.
This article is translated from https://intojapanwaraku.com/rock/gourmet-rock/226625/
