Perfect as a gift! Hidehiko Ishizuka of Honjamaka recommends his “favorite sweets that make you excited

Introducing the best of the best from all over Japan!

Hello, everyone. This is Hidehiko Ishizuka. Just by looking at the forecasted maximum temperature on the weather forecast, I end up going to the convenience store to buy ice cream.

This time, I would like to introduce some of my favorite sweets that make me excited. They are the kind of sweets that make you think, “I will follow the person who gives this to me for the rest of my life” when you receive them as a mid-year gift, as a year-end present, or as a present.

First, two from Hokkaido. The first is “Marusei Butter Sandwich” from Rokkatei. The cream is a combination of Hokkaido butter and white chocolate, and is filled with raisins. It is sandwiched between two slightly moist cookies. At home, we enjoy it chilled in the refrigerator. One bite brings me happiness, and eating it before work helps me get a good job done.

Next, we also recommend the “Go-Treat Pudding Custard” from “Santa Cream. The store in Ebetsu City is in a Christmas mood all year round. There are about as many varieties of pudding as there are people in one elementary school class. The bottom of the container is deep, so you have to use a long spoon to scoop it up and drink it. The eggs, milk, and cream are well balanced, and the caramel sauce is genius.

Next is “Misotampo” from Akita Prefecture. It is made by skewering “tampo” (ground rice), dipping it in miso, and grilling it. I had this skewer at a roadside station during the filming, and it overturned the concept of skewers that I have had at roadside stations and service areas. It is not just a small meal, but a “meal on a skewer” in terms of volume. The rice is neither too hard nor too soft, and the sweet miso relieves fatigue.

For Iwate Prefecture, I recommend “seagull eggs” from “Saito Seika”. I got to know the confectionery “Seagull’s Egg” before I saw a real seagull’s egg. The yolk part of the bean paste is wrapped in sponge cake dough and coated with white chocolate. They are small, so I eat at least five at once like Sylvester Stallone in the movie “Rocky. They are cute and maiy.

Ideal as a gift

From Miyagi Prefecture, Iwate’s neighbor, we present “Zunda Mochi”. Zunda mochi is a wonderful creation made with aromatic Zunda (zunda), slightly sweetened, and mixed with a smooth rice cake. It is originally from Sendai, but can also be found at Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

Although not a sweet, let me also introduce “yakisaba” (grilled mackerel) from Fukui Prefecture. It is twice as big and three times heavier than the “grilled ayu” or “grilled rainbow trout” often seen at riverside campgrounds. It is five times as fatty. Wouldn’t it make you smile if you see a couple holding a “grilled mackerel” in their hands while on a date? If you suddenly feel the need to replenish your fat, by all means, go for it.

Fontaine Fuchuya” in Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, has “Sucker Ace Monaka”. This monaka has three kinds of red bean paste (azuki, red sweet potato, and green tea) wrapped in a skin that resembles a soccer ball. With just the right amount of sweetness, you will want to score five goals at a time.

Sunny Buns” by “Shiroya” in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is a piece of round soft French bread with condensed milk, the liquid that makes people the happiest in the world, locked inside, and is also highly recommended.

Lastly, I would like to introduce “Harbor Double Marron” by “Ariake” from my hometown, Kanagawa Prefecture. This is a Yokohama-inspired sweet with chopped chestnuts encased in homemade harbor red bean paste and wrapped in sponge cake dough shaped like a boat. The wide variety and cute packaging make it an ideal gift. Everyone is welcome to try the “Harbor Double Marron” and let it enter your mouth.

From the November 14/21, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY