Wagashi -Japanese traditional sweets-

source:https://www.kyoto-tower-sando.jp/shop/index/151

What is wagashi?
wagashi is a Japanese style traditional sweets, and  typically served with green tea.
These wagashi are commonly made of rice and wheat flours, azuki beans and other kinds of beans, sugar, starch syrup, some with eggs.
They don’t contain fats and oils, spice, dairy products so much, so they are healthy.
One of the most representative.

Anko; representative ingredients of wagashi
Anko, which is also called an, a representative ingredients of wagashi.
Anko is a bean jam which is usually made from Red beans. It seemed to be introduced from China to Japan in 13^th century. In the 18^th century, it became popular among common people in keeping with the spread of sugar.
There are many kinds of anko depending on material, shape of beans, ingredients.
For example, uguisu-an is made from green bean and goma-an is made by adding sesami into anko.

Strong in the connection with seasons.
There are lot of kinds for wagashi, and some of them are strong in the connection with four seasons.
There are two types of wagashi that we feel four seasons.
One of them is a seasonally limited, for example, sakura-mochi in spring, and mizuyokan which is soft sweet bean jelly or paste in summer,
These wagashi tell us oncoming of each season.
Another of them has a beautiful appearance and express seasons. For example, shape represent bamboo in spring and autumn leaves in autumn.
This type of wagashi is different appearance dependent shops. So, we can enjoy its difference too.
Japanese people have enjoyed wagashi since long time ago.
These beautiful appearances owe much to the existence of craftsmanship.

Importance of Master craftsmanship for wagashi
Some of wagashi are made by craft only.
The important thing is that crafts represent identity of craftsman. For instance, when craftsmen make wagashi which represent autum leaves, some of them focus shape and make exactly like the real leaves. On the other hand, others focuses color. There is no correct answer. Craftsmen tell us seasons which they feel it on their own, so we can also enjoy their difference. It is interesting for us to search favorite craftsman and wagashi shop.

source:http://www.wagashi.or.jp/monogatari/ajiwai/geijutsu.php

In conclusion, wagashi has strong connection Japanese people for a long time. I think enjoying wagashi is to know japan. So, the more you know wagashi, the more you will like japan. I recommend to you.

Reference
http://www.wagashi.or.jp/
http://xn--ols68ggwe.com/archives/5122
http://aissy.co.jp/ajihakase/blog/archives/13227