Kuzefuku Shoten Launches New "Hitokuchi Yokan" Bite-Sized Japanese Sweets

A new collection of premium bite-sized yokan has arrived at Kuzefuku Shoten stores. On August 27, 2025, the popular Japanese specialty store began offering "Hitokuchi Yokan" in 6-piece and 10-piece sets at their official online shop and stores nationwide.

These elegant Japanese confections are perfect for seasonal greetings or business occasions. Made with traditional techniques and carefully selected ingredients, each bite offers a luxurious experience.

Product availability may vary by store. Please contact your nearest location for details.

The collection features refined sweetness with a gentle Japanese aroma that spreads beautifully. Whether treating yourself or gifting to someone special, these sweets make an ideal choice.

Individual Flavors Available

Store Exclusive: Hitokuchi Yokan An-Butter - 290 yen (tax included)

This unique flavor draws inspiration from Kuzefuku Shoten's popular "An-Butter" spread. Hokkaido-produced adzuki beans are soaked in honey overnight, allowing sweetness to penetrate to the core. Combined with butter and salted koji, the result is a rich, deep flavor that harmoniously blends Japanese and Western tastes.

Perfect for Business Gifting

The collection comes in elegant gift boxes, making them suitable for summer gifts, seasonal greetings, and business occasions. These sets convey the Japanese spirit while providing a thoughtful gesture.

The "Hitokuchi Yokan Series" represents authentic Japanese confectionery crafted by artisans with 70 years of experience. The deep flavors result from time-honored techniques and carefully selected ingredients.

Traditional Production Methods

The "An-Butter" variety uses a traditional "honey-soaking method," where cooked adzuki beans soak in granulated sugar honey overnight. Artisans carefully adjust the soaking time each year based on the adzuki beans' condition, ensuring sweetness penetrates to the core.

Other flavors use the "kneading method," where adzuki beans and white kidney beans undergo slow kneading. This process creates a smooth texture that allows the natural flavor of ingredients to emerge with each bite.

Premium Ingredients

The collection features Hokkaido-produced adzuki beans and white kidney beans. For sweetening, artisans use wasanbon sugar, known for its refined taste and rich depth.

The preparation water comes from the seven sacred peaks of the Suzuka mountain range's underground sources. This natural water enhances the ingredients' flavors, creating rich taste experiences with each bite.

The Story Behind the Product

"Hitokuchi Yokan" results from collaboration between two companies: Miyako Seian (Kyoto) and Endo Seian (Tokyo). The founders, Shigeru Yamanashi and Kiyoji Endo, were relatives who learned bean paste techniques together in Shizuoka Prefecture after the war.

Their shared philosophy was simple: "Bean paste isn't something special. We want to make it accessible to everyone." This sentiment drove their daily passion for creating quality bean paste.

During the 1970s, yokan was a luxury item made with abundant sugar. Large 1.5kg stick yokan dominated the market, making it difficult for ordinary people to afford. Despite this, the two founders believed smaller, more accessible yokan would become popular and worked together to create the "hitokuchi yokan" prototype.

More than 70 years later, both companies continue collaborating on yokan production, maintaining their original commitment to delivering quality.

(Images provided by: Miyako Seian, Endo Seian)

About the Manufacturers

Miyako Seian

Founded in Kyoto City in 1950, Miyako Seian pioneered canned pudding and mizu-yokan production in 1965. In 1982, when large stick yokan was standard, they developed small-sized yokan that became today's market mainstream.

Recently, they've expanded beyond traditional neri-yokan and matcha yokan, developing new varieties that blend Japanese and Western elements with solid fruits and nuts.

Endo Seian

Established in Tokyo's Toshima Ward in 1950, Endo Seian developed low-sugar bean paste in 1986, allowing people to appreciate adzuki bean flavor beyond just sweetness. In 1997, they received organic JAS certification and began producing organic products.

Their philosophy: "Making people happy is what a product should be." They deliver this spirit through adzuki bean products including mizu-yokan, zenzai, and an-butter.

Awards:

• 1975: All-Japan Award at the All-Japan Yokan Grand Prize Competition
• 1977: Grand Prize of Honor for mizu-yokan at the 19th National Confectionery Exhibition