Two of Kyoto's long-established confectioners, Suetomi (末富) and Kameya Yoshinaga (亀屋良長), have developed new wagashi made with acai, a superfood native to Brazil. The new sweets, called WAÇAÍ (和サイー), will make their debut at Matsuri Crossing KYOTO X BRASIL, held at Ohigashi-san Hiroba (お東さん広場) in front of Higashi Honganji from Friday, November 6, 2026. They were developed jointly with Frutafruta Co., Ltd. (株式会社フルッタフルッタ).
The project began through a connection with Higashi Honganji's Monshu Otani (大谷門首) and sets out to combine acai with traditional Japanese ingredients. Kyoto's confectionery artisans have drawn on the characteristics of acai to create wagashi with a new kind of flavor.
The WAÇAÍ Lineup
Acai Monaka by Suetomi (末富)
- Product name: Acai Monaka
- Price: ¥1,000 (tax included) for a pack of 3
Suetomi's traditional sweet bean paste is combined with acai in this monaka. Acai has no distinct sweetness or sourness and deepens the richness of the ingredients, and that quality is put to use here. The smooth bean paste (koshian) has a refined, clean sweetness and the full flavor of azuki beans, and at the end the fruity, deep aroma of acai spreads softly. It leaves a polished aftertaste shaped by traditional craftsmanship.
Ubadama Acai by Kameya Yoshinaga (亀屋良長)
- Product name: Ubadama Acai (烏羽玉 アサイー), 6 pieces
- Price: ¥1,000 (tax included)
This sweet is based on Kameya Yoshinaga's signature confection, Ubadama (烏羽玉), with an inventive twist. White smooth bean paste kneaded with acai is rolled into bite-sized pieces and finished with a glossy surface. Passion fruit, which is also popular in Brazil, is added as an accent. A refreshing sweet-and-sour note layers over the richness of the acai, giving the sweet a surprising, Western-confection-like taste.
Matsuri Crossing KYOTO X BRASIL
During the three days of the event, WAÇAÍ will be on sale for a limited time at a special booth, where a special video will also be shown. On Saturday, November 7, a public talk session will bring together the people involved in the development.
Special Booth
- Period: Friday, November 6 to Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Hours: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Venue: Frutafruta special booth at Ohigashi-san Hiroba (お東さん広場), Higashi Honganji-mae Citizens' Green Space (東本願寺前市民緑地)
- On sale: The two WAÇAÍ products (Acai Monaka and Ubadama Acai, 6 pieces) and more
Quantities are limited for each product, so items may sell out.
Depending on crowds and stock, a limit may be placed on how much each customer can buy per purchase.
Public Talk Session
- Date and time: Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 1:30 PM (planned)
- Venue: Main Stage in front of the Higashi Honganji gate
- Speakers:
- 藤宗智秋, Deputy Director of the Finance Department, Higashi Honganji
- 山口祥二, Kyo-gashi confectioner Suetomi
- 𠮷村良和, Kyo-gashi confectioner Kameya Yoshinaga
- 長澤誠, President and Representative Director, Frutafruta Co., Ltd.
For the latest event information, check the official Matsuri Crossing KYOTO X BRASIL website.
About the Confectioners
Suetomi (末富)
Suetomi was founded in 1893 (Meiji 26). It makes many prestigious wagashi, including offering sweets for Higashi Honganji. Starting from the concept of "a world of dreams and fun," it continues to make authentic Kyoto confections that appeal to the senses: the eyes enjoy their colors and shapes, and the ears enjoy the names given to them. For this project, it built on the traditions handed down by its predecessors and used refined sensibility and skill to turn acai into a dignified wagashi.
Official website: https://www.kyoto-suetomi.com/
Kameya Yoshinaga (亀屋良長)
Kameya Yoshinaga was founded in 1803 (Kyowa 3). For more than 220 years, it has made Kyoto confections with the famous spring water "Samegai" (醒ヶ井水) that wells up at its shop front. Besides its signature confection Ubadama (烏羽玉), it has created confections associated with Higashi Honganji, and it actively develops new products that keep tradition alive while keeping up with the times. For this project, it used its long-cultivated traditional techniques to achieve a new blend of acai and Japanese flavors.
Official website: https://kameya-yoshinaga.com/
