Okamedo's "Anmaki" Wrapper, Not the Red Bean Paste, Was Sold: A New Dessert Born from the Wrapper of a Popular Japanese Restaurant

It's not just Japanese sweets that a Japanese confectionery shop sells.

Okamedo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture / Representative Director: Takahiko Mori), which has been making Japanese sweets in the Higashi-Mikawa region of Aichi Prefecture for 75 years, is pleased to announce the creation of a new original dessert utilizing the wrapper of Okamedo's signature product, "Anmaki," in collaboration with "Gengaya," a popular Japanese restaurant in front of Toyohashi Station.

What Okamedo delivered this time was not "anko" (red bean paste).

What was delivered was the "Anmaki wrapper," which has been loved by the region for many years.

Using that wrapper, the chefs at Gengaya devised an original Japanese-Western fusion dessert that combines cream cheese, white bean paste, and Shine Muscat grapes.

Japanese sweets that have been cherished in the region are reborn into new value through the sensibility of chefs.

This initiative is also a challenge for a new food culture in Higashi-Mikawa, born from the co-creation of local businesses.

■ A Co-creation Project That Began with a Connection

This initiative was not born suddenly.

Through ongoing exchanges and discussions about the potential of local ingredients and Japanese sweets, the conversation evolved into "Can we jointly promote a food culture unique to Toyohashi?" leading to the development of this dessert.

The head chef of Gengaya focused on Okamedo's signature product, "Anmaki."

However, what interested him was not the anko, but the "wrapper."

"This dough has new potential as a Japanese dessert."

From this idea, this co-creation project began.

■ Aiming for "I've never seen anything like this before."

To achieve that one phrase.

Gengaya is a popular Japanese restaurant that upholds the philosophy of

"We want to be number one in Japan for our customers."

Not just the food, but also the service, the atmosphere, the conversation, and the hospitality.

They are supported by many customers while cherishing warm, human "meddling."

While cherishing the tradition of Japanese cuisine, they continue to challenge themselves to deliver the surprise of "I've never seen anything like this before."

■ The Result: A "Dessert That Changes the Finale of a Japanese Meal"

This dessert is currently served as the finale of Gengaya's course meals.

Anmaki wrapper
× Cream cheese
× White bean paste
× Shine Muscat

It was born from this unexpected combination.

Instead of a standard crepe wrapper, Okamedo's Anmaki wrapper was deliberately chosen.

The reason was its unique chewy texture and the elegant sweetness that does not disrupt the lingering taste of Japanese cuisine.

First, a thin layer of cream cheese is spread on the Anmaki wrapper.

White bean paste is layered on top, and a whole Shine Muscat grape is wrapped in the center.

Furthermore, for this dessert, Gengaya specially produced an original "Gen" brand mark.

Actually, the biggest challenge was not the taste, but the position of the brand mark.

They repeated numerous trials to ensure that the "Gen" character and the Shine Muscat grape would be beautifully visible simultaneously when cut.

Where to place the brand mark.

Where to cut.

How to present the first cross-section the customer sees.

As a result of meticulous attention to detail, a dessert like a work of art was completed, with the Shine Muscat and the "Gen" brand mark beautifully aligned.

■ A New Initiative: Co-creation Between a Japanese Confectionery Shop and a Restaurant

What is characteristic of this initiative is that

the Japanese confectionery shop is not selling the finished product,

but is providing "ingredients" and "techniques."

Okamedo has so far produced numerous collaborative products such as:

・Black Thunder Anmaki
・Piyorin Anmaki
・Sake Manju

However, this time it is not product development.

It is a challenge to deliver Japanese confectionery techniques themselves to local restaurants.

The Anmaki wrapper holds various possibilities, such as hotel desserts, kaiseki meals at inns, course meals at restaurants, and cafe sweets.

Japanese confectionery techniques are active in the food service industry.

This new model is starting from Toyohashi.

■ Comment from Gengaya Head Chef

Okamedo's Anmaki is a familiar presence to many Toyohashi citizens.

By using its wrapper, I felt we could express both regionality and novelty.

Actually, the biggest challenge was not the taste, but the position of the brand mark.

We repeated numerous trials to ensure that the "Gen" character and the Shine Muscat grape would be visible together when cut.

I believe it has become a dessert that customers will feel, "I've never seen anything like this before."

■ Comment from Takahiko Mori, Representative Director of Okamedo Co., Ltd.

What made me happiest this time was that value was placed on the "Anmaki wrapper" rather than the "Anmaki" itself.

There are still many techniques and ingredients in Japanese confectionery that are not widely known to the public.

We want to be a company that sells Japanese sweets, and at the same time, a company that supports the local food culture.

We will continue to transmit new value born from Higashi-Mikawa through co-creation with local restaurants and companies.

【Company Profile】

Okamedo Co., Ltd.

Location: 164 Minamikogoe-cho, Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture

Representative Director: Takahiko Mori

HP: https://okamedo.jp/

SNS Accounts Twitter: https://twitter.com/okamedo_jp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okamedo_jp/