June 16 is Wagashi Day (和菓子の日) in Japan. The date traces its origins to 848, when Emperor Nimmyo offered 16 confections and rice cakes at a shrine ceremony on the 16th day of the sixth month — a ritual known as kashoo (嘉祥) — to pray for protection from illness and to welcome good health. Among the ingredients used in this tradition, red beans (azuki) have long been regarded as auspicious, believed to ward off misfortune and invite well-being.
To mark the occasion, Daimaru Tokyo is featuring a curated selection of 10 anko sweets — including refreshing seasonal water confections alongside popular classics. All prices are tax-inclusive.
1. Shiosase Sohonke — Special Jyonamagashi "Ajisai" (Hydrangea) — ¥702 / 1F
Available until June 19
This nerikiri confection captures the layered, shifting colors of the hydrangea — nicknamed the "seven-change" flower — rendered in soft, gradient hues of the pressed sweet.
2. Genji Kichoan — Yusui — ¥324 / 1F
Available until mid-August
A kuzumanju (arrowroot bun) filled with smooth koshi-an, offering a gently sweet and light flavor.
3. Tsuruyayoshinobu — Mamekan Roko Ogura-an — ¥756 / 1F
Available until late August
A classic mitsumame accompanied by richly flavored ogura-an made from Hokkaido-grown azuki beans.
4. Ginza Akebono — Aoume — ¥291 / 1F
Available until June 30
A whole honey-preserved plum wrapped in gyuhi (sweet rice cake) and white bean paste.
5. Toshimaya — Suzuka Mizuyokan Azuki (Set of 2) — ¥1,296 / 1F
Available until late August
A smooth, silky mizuyokan (chilled yokan jelly) with a clean finish — a refreshing choice for warm summer days.
6. Kanawa Jushoan — Amo (1 piece) — ¥1,296 / B1F
A soft habutae mochi wrapped in hand-cooked an made from Tamba Dainagon azuki beans, prized for their rich aroma and depth of flavor.
7. Ryoguchiya Korekiyo — Tabiamakura Natsumikan-an (10 pieces) — ¥1,026 / 1F
Available until late August
Part of the 75th anniversary "Tabiamakura" series, this third installment features a baked confection with a refreshingly bright summer mandarin flavor.
8. Morisachiro — Morisachiro Dorayaki (Azuki an) — ¥270 / 1F
Crafted with carefully selected Hokkaido azuki beans, this dorayaki brings together a distinctive sponge cake and a well-balanced filling.
9. Funawa — Anko-dama (9 pieces) — ¥874 / 1F
Small balls of naturally flavored an with restrained sweetness, encased in agar jelly that bursts with a satisfying pop.
10. Komagome Nakazato — Age Monaka (6 pieces) — ¥1,236 / B1F
The savory aroma of sesame oil and a lightly salted shell accentuate the sweetness of the an in this deep-fried monaka.
