Tokyo Artisan

The latest food culture. What's slowly gaining traction in the world of food right now?

An artisan is a craftsman. Tokyo is a city teeming with new talent, including up-and-coming artists and creators, but the "food artisans" who support this world-class gourmet city are also quite powerful. They respect tradition and nature while also being sensitive to new things. Perhaps this flexible sense of balance is what makes Tokyo so interesting.

a/ Founded in 1834, this long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Shinjuku, which has always been particular about its bean paste, is trying its hand at taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes filled with sweet bean paste) for the first time. They have wrapped their proud bean paste, made from Hokkaido-grown adzuki beans that have been carefully simmered, in a dough that is baked to a crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside using their unique recipe. Freshly baked taiyaki will be sold in the store.
Hanazono Manju Taiyaki (1 piece) 270 yen
■Food Collection
*Sales period: November 22nd (Wed) - 28th (Tue)

b/ This Japan-made coffee is cultivated in the unique, subtropical climate of Chichijima Island in Ogasawara Village, Tokyo. Producer Yusuke Yamano says, "The trees remember all the changes in seasons, temperature, and humidity up to the time they reach maturity." This coffee, grown with meticulous hand-cultivation, boasts a profound flavor that will leave a lasting impression.
Capital Coffee Ogasawara Coffee (Yusuke Yamano 100% BONIN ISLAND)
(50g) ¥4,860 *Limited to 30 items ■Chef's Selection

With a satisfying snap of the scissors, the candy transforms as if by magic. The four candy artisans at Amezaiku Yoshihara, a permanent shop specializing in candy art, create candies that combine traditional techniques with their individual styles. Each one is a uniquely Japanese kind of "cuteness" that is attracting attention from overseas.
Yoshiwara candy art (1 piece each)
a/Budgerigar 1,890 yen, b/French Bulldog 1,350 yen, c/Squirrel 1,350 yen, d/Amepyon: Heart 1,458 yen, e/Fawn 1,674 yen, f/Owl 1,674 yen ■Sweets/Master Craftsman's Confectionery