Perfecting Japan's Seasonal Sweets Through Six Generations

For the past six generations, the Fukushima family has mastered and preserved the intricate art of Japanese confectionery known as wagashi. These ornate sweets, meant to reflect the delicate beauty of nature, were traditionally created to accompany the Japanese tea ceremony. They are often shaped to resemble traditional flower motifs, and change with the shifting seasons. At Fukushimaya, approximately 200 different types of sweets are created throughout the year, with daffodils and camellia blossoms ushering in spring. Using designs that date back to Japan’s Edo period, the Fukushima family is keeping a deeply-rooted Japanese art form alive.

This story is a part of our Flavors series, where we do so much more than play with our food. Come with us as we dive into deliciously different and tastefully off-beat stories in the culinary world.

[salmonfish]

Great Big Story, I really appreciate your video, but I have a suggestion. When displaying the different designs they have made, jump cutting from one design to the next, rapidly, try to show it when there are no texts to read and when the dude stops talking? I'm stuck between reading the lines or looking as the designs pass by. Seriously, not to be nitpicky or anything.

[thereisnousernorname]

"Dad, I wanna be a doctor."

"No son, you shall uphold the Fukushima tradition and become the head of the family's wagashi shop!"

Talk about turn of the tables.

[wvrthpy]

when you are surfing YouTube cause you want to ignore your stomachs demonstrating a whale's mating call ....

[JuansGotThis]

you know the sweet must be good if you can't even imagine the taste of it!!

[frenchjr]

Great Big Story - I'd love to see you launch a campaign to make sure the Fukushima's amazing book is properly digitally preserved for future generations.

[saladbattery]

I’ve made these before (although no where as close to as perfect as the people in the video can make them) and man it is hard. I think I’ve tried almost 5 times now and even perfecting the dough is difficult, and it takes hours just to make the bean paste because you must peel each bean individually or mash through a sieve. and then if your dough isn’t perfect, it makes it hard to shape into the proper form because it’s not the right consistency or it doesn’t have the right level of moisture. i have mad respect for these guys.

[naritruwireve]

2:16
What do you want me to do?
Yeah, just walk around with the camera on that board

[tompinion]

I am convinced that there is nothing about Japanese culture, food, and art that is not absolutely amazing and stunningly beautiful.

[ingleward]

Everybody: let machines do it

Japan: I will craft this paperclip for 6 generation and it will be the best paperclip for 7 generations more

[lifeisnotfairearthisnotsqu]

Why are most of the fascinating stuffs are in Japan?😂

[biobiobio]

I kinda don't want to eat them because I feel like I'd ruin the hard work! D: Even the wrapping and the box they're in looks so amazing!!!

[boppob]

Japanese videos on this channel are always so inspiring

[motosoul]

That's some serious dedication with passion.

[sebastiansosa]

This is actually beautiful i could spend hours watching "Wagashis" being made

[RealityRogue]

Is no one else commenting on how incredible it is that they have the book from the original founder in almost perfect condition?? I think it's so fascinating seeing how they use the same designs from the book and molds past down

[TheLordSheogorath]

I always loved how much Chinese and Japanese people find inspiration in flowers and treat them with respect, this is so beautiful to see.

[toBeere]

I'd love to see wagashi representing the variety of flowers from different countries as an extension of their seasonal menu or as limited editions for tourists.

[TheRainydayvideo]

What beautiful pieces of art these sweets are!

[thecursor]

I really enjoy looking at the stories of people with these amazing, practiced skills. Like this guy and his son really studied this thing they make, this passion they share. You can really hear the pride in their voice over this thing that most people would consider a very small thing: They make sweets and they're proud because they think they make THE BEST candy in their whole country. That's beautiful. In a world where so many things are made using an assembly line or a machine, these guys make something beautiful by hand.

[hmmjhcj]

This is why Great Big Story is one of the best channel in youtube, no challenge for others