Ogashi Tsuchiya’s Wagashi “Mizuno Iro” Wins First Place in Japan-Wide Souvenir Ranking

Ogashi Tsuchiya, a confectionery maker based in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture and led by Representative Director Noritaka Komase, announced that its wagashi “Mizuno Iro” was selected as the No. 1 item in an influencer-led “47 Prefectures Japan-Wide Ultimate Souvenir Championship.” In recent years, “Mizuno Iro” has increasingly been featured on social media and in the media, attracting attention as a “beautiful” wagashi and “a sweet one should see at least once.” During the Golden Week holiday period, many customers visited the shop to purchase it. At the same time, the company feels it has not sufficiently communicated what kind of confection it is or why it is not easy to obtain. Using this selection as an opportunity, Ogashi Tsuchiya is sharing more information about what “Mizuno Iro” is and why it is difficult to purchase casually. “Mizuno Iro” is a wagashi based on the traditional method of dried kingyoku jelly, delicately expressing the colors of water, sky, plants, and trees. Due to its production method, it is vulnerable to impact and temperature changes, requiring great care from production to handover. For this reason, it is generally intended for in-store pickup. In addition, each piece is made by hand and is not mass-produced, which has led to many inquiries about why it is sold by reservation and where it can be purchased. The company acknowledges that its explanations have not been sufficient. Although “Mizuno Iro” is often thought of as a sweet that cannot be purchased online, Ogashi Tsuchiya does in fact offer products through its official online shop that are designed to withstand delivery so they can reach customers far away. However, these items differ in specifications from the in-store version and are not intended for mass production, so the company has not actively promoted them. As a result, many people believe the product is not sold online, and the company hopes this announcement will help customers become aware of the available options. The company says it is very pleased that this championship has introduced more people to “Mizuno Iro,” and it wants to use this opportunity to convey the product’s qualities and the maker’s philosophy. Ogashi Tsuchiya emphasizes not sparing effort, not forcing production volume to increase, prioritizing product condition above all, and communicating the appeal of Ogaki City in Gifu Prefecture through confectionery. While preserving this approach, the company offers e-commerce as one official way for customers in distant areas to experience its products. Ogashi Tsuchiya notes that “Mizuno Iro” and its other sweets are not products that can be made in large quantities. Precisely for that reason, the company says nothing would make it happier than customers still wanting to try them. It hopes this announcement will help people understand “Mizuno Iro” more deeply. In addition to “Mizuno Iro,” Ogashi Tsuchiya also offers other carefully crafted sweets, including the Japanese-style apple pie “Korinka,” made with apples soaked in rich syrup, paired with domestic chestnut paste, and gently baked one by one, as well as the popular “Fuwafuwa Takara,” which sandwiches mildly sweet fresh cream with house-made red bean paste. The company hopes that these heartfelt products, together with “Mizuno Iro,” will bring joy to as many customers as possible. Ogashi Tsuchiya is a confectionery shop that has continued making sweets in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture. It values tradition while making use of the region’s water and climate, and its guiding belief is to quietly and sincerely face the craft of confectionery.