[Sakura Anpan]
In Kyoto, cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Did you know that there is a spring-like bean-jam bun that can be found in Japanese bakeries during this season? It is commonly known as "sakura anpan" with a salted cherry blossom on top of the center of the anpan.
The origin of anpan dates back to April 4, 1875, when Kimuraya's anpan was presented to the Emperor and Empress of Meiji during their cherry blossom viewing party at the Mito domain's Shimoyashiki in Mukojima, Tokyo. Tesshu Yamaoka, who served as a chamberlain to Emperor Meiji at the time and is said to have been fond of anpan, advised Yasubei Kimura, the first head of Kimuraya, to serve anpan made purely in Japan. He advised Kimura Yasubei, the founder of Kimuraya, to serve anpan made in Japan.
Yasubei and his sons and brothers decided to express "Japanese spring" in the anpan they presented to the public, and turned their attention to "cherry blossoms," the national flower that symbolizes Japan and can express a sense of the season. The combination of the sweetness of the sake-type dough and red bean paste with the salted cherry blossoms was so exquisite that Their Majesties were so pleased with the anpan that they requested that Kimuraya's anpan "continue to be supplied" by Their Majesties. Since then, Kimuraya's anpan have been topped with salted cherry blossoms and sold to the general public, becoming very popular.
Today, you can find sakura anpan at many bakeries. There is a wide variety, from the orthodox one with salted pickled cherry blossoms in the center of the bean-pan to the one with "sakura-an," a white bean paste with salted cherry blossom and leaf pickles kneaded into the white bean paste. If you visit Japan during the cherry blossom season, be sure to look for sakura anpan at bakeries. You can enjoy it as it is or warm it up a little.
Incidentally, at Ginza Kimuraya in Ginza 4-chome, you can purchase anpan topped with salted cherry blossoms throughout the year. It is a 10-minute walk from our Ginza Showroom, so it might be a good idea to visit when strolling through Ginza.
How about taking your favorite bread plate that you always use at home outside and enjoying it during the cherry blossom viewing season? Enjoy Japanese spring at its best with cherry blossoms in full bloom and sakura anpan.
Moyai Kogei's Zelkova Bread Plate
https://www.shokunin.com/en/moyai/
Okubo House Mokkosha's Bread Plate
https://www.shokunin.com/en/okubo/pan.html
Tsujiwa Kanaami's Tetsuki Yakiami
https://www.shokunin.com/en/tsujiwa/tetsuki.html
Ginza Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/ginza.html
References
http://www.kimuraya-sohonten.co.jp/ec/2013anpan
https://mi-journey.jp/foodie/62223/
https://otonanswer.jp/post/35849/