The history of Japanese sweets
(Wagashi)
Keitei Long ago, many sweets came into Japan from foreign countries. These sweets were Changed and reproduced by the natural features of Japan and the cultures of the Japanese. First, I will explain the origin of the word---"Wagashi". It can be divided into tow parts , "Wa" and "Kashi". "Wa" stands for "Japanese" and "Kashi" means "sweets", but it used to mean "fruits" in the past. These facts let us understand that sweets and fruits have close relationship.
Japanese sweets originated in the Yayoi Era (200B.C-200A.D), at which time they were made of baked rice and dried potatoes. Later, in the Nara Era (700A.D) bean-filled cakes (manju) and other sweets were brought from China with Buddhism.(see figure 1) They developed as religious offerings and to be presented to the imperial household. In the Muromati Era, as tea ceremony became more popular (see figure 2) , sweets were used in the ceremony, and called "tenjin" by the Zen priests. So the techniques for manuifacturing sweets advanced along with Japanese culture. For all that, the sweets made in Japan were still based on Chinese sweets. In the Edo Era there was a dramatic increase in the varieties of Japanese sweets, many of them have remained unchanged into the present. Because sugar became more reasonable, so they came to be enjoyed by the masses rather than just the elite. By this era the characteristice of Japanese sweets was decided. After World War 2, Japanese meal was changed into European style. Also, industry of Japan deveroped very quickly, and it changed the process of making foods. Many sweets are made by machines.
But the characteristice of Japanese sweets has not changed. The way of seasonal change is incorporated in the shapes and colors of Japanese sweets. Even now Japanese sweets are made from local products, their forms reflecting the history and traditions of each locality.
References
http://www.wnn.or.jp/wagashi/jwagashi1.html http://www.gld.mmtr.or.jp/shokado/wagashi.htm
Keitei
Last updated 6-Dec-2001