Ginza Wakana, a pickle specialty shop operated by Wakana Co., Ltd. (株式会社若菜), releases a series of three onigiri mixes called Tsukemusubi (漬けむすび) on Friday, October 16, 2026. Stir a pack into freshly cooked rice and the onigiri are ready to shape.
Tsukemusubi is made with care to bring out the natural character of the ingredients, making use of the flavor and umami that are characteristic of Japanese pickles. Mixed into rice and shaped lightly, the mixes make onigiri with a rich, deep taste. The three flavors are Ise Takuan and Jako, Okaka Ginger, and Luxurious Takana.
The release date of October 16 is World Food Day, designated by the United Nations, and also Kokusho Kokusan Day (国消国産の日), a day to think about Japan's food and agriculture. Ginza Wakana has valued vegetables from across Japan and traditional pickle-making while proposing new ways to enjoy pickles at today's dinner tables. Tsukemusubi was created with the hope of helping people become familiar with Japanese ingredients and food culture, and make everyday rice more delicious and more fun.
To mark the release, two special sets that pair well with rice are also sold in limited quantities through the Ginza Wakana Online Shop.
Pickle Shop Flavors, Made Easier: Three Distinct Tastes
Tsukemusubi is an onigiri mix that is ready after stirring one pack into one go (合) of freshly cooked rice.
Domestic vegetables are slowly pickled in a simple pickling bed, which gives the mixes a deep flavor. No unnecessary ingredients are used.
1. Tsukemusubi: Ise Takuan and Jako (漬けむすび〈伊勢たくあんとじゃこ〉)
This flavor uses Ise takuan (伊勢沢庵), made from Misono daikon radish (御薗大根), a traditional vegetable of Mie Prefecture, pickled for three years by a traditional method. The takuan, with the sourness and depth that come from fermentation and aging, is finely chopped and combined with chirimen jako (dried baby sardines). The mix offers the rich flavor and texture of aged takuan together with the umami of the jako.
2. Tsukemusubi: Okaka Ginger (漬けむすび〈おかか生姜〉)
Young ginger from Kochi Prefecture is pickled in whole soybean soy sauce and hon-mirin, then mixed with plenty of katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) from Yaizu. The distinctive spiciness and aroma of the ginger spread together with the umami of the bonito flakes, for an approachable flavor.
3. Tsukemusubi: Luxurious Takana (漬けむすび〈贅沢たかな〉)
Aged takana (mustard greens) pickles, a specialty of Fukuoka, are chopped and combined with takuan, sesame, pine nuts, and goji berries. The rich flavor of the takana is layered with the textures and tastes of the various ingredients, making a satisfying mix.
Product Details
- Product name: Tsukemusubi (漬けむすび), in three flavors: Okaka Ginger (おかか生姜), Luxurious Takana (贅沢たかな), and Ise Takuan and Jako (伊勢たくあんとじゃこ)
- Release date: Friday, October 16, 2026
- Price: ¥540 each (tax included)
- Content: 60 g each
- Best-before: 90 days for Okaka Ginger; 60 days for Ise Takuan and Jako and Luxurious Takana
- Storage: Room temperature
- Where to buy: Ginza Wakana Online Shop, Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Ginza Mitsukoshi store, Isetan Shinjuku, Daimaru Tokyo, Haneda Airport shops, the factory outlet store, and others
For Everyday Meals and Casual Gifts
Because the mixes only need to be stirred into rice and shaped, they are convenient for busy days and for packed lunches, and they make onigiri with a flavor different from the usual. They are also recommended as a side for rice or as a snack with drinks.
The packs travel easily at room temperature and keep well, so they also work as a small gift to share or a gift to bring when visiting someone.
Release Commemoration: Special Sets for Rice Lovers
To coincide with the release of Tsukemusubi, two special sets that pair well with rice are sold in limited quantities at the online shop.
Gohan no Tomo Set (ご飯のおともセット)
Besides Tsukemusubi Ise Takuan and Jako, the set includes chopped narazuke, Edo Gobo (江戸ごぼう), a popular Tokyo souvenir, and umeboshi (pickled plums) that can be chosen to taste. It is a set of four kinds of pickles that go well with rice and are handy to keep as everyday side dishes.
- Price: ¥2,225 (tax included)
- Contents: Tsukemusubi Ise Takuan and Jako / Komi Ichizen (香味一膳) / Edo Gobo (江戸ごぼう) / umeboshi of your choice
Rice and Gohan no Tomo Set (お米とご飯のおともセット)
A visually fun assortment of the three Tsukemusubi flavors and three kinds of new-crop rice in cube packs from Kikutaya Beikokuten (菊太屋米穀店), a rice shop particular not only about the region and variety but also about the producer.
- Price: ¥3,348 (tax included)
- Contents: 3 kinds of Tsukemusubi, 300 g each of 3 kinds of rice
