[Ajiman]

Have you ever seen the word “Ajiman” in supermarkets in Tohoku, Kanto, and Kyushu between September and April? Ajiman is a Yamagata winter delicacy, a so-called oban-yaki with a thinly baked crust and sweet bean paste with grains of adzuki beans. The sweet bean paste, cooked in a traditional copper oven, does not keep well in the heat, so it is sold only during the cooler months. Winter will soon be upon us when we start seeing Ajiman stores in supermarkets.

Ajiman began in 1965 at the Yamase Store, the first supermarket in the region, which opened in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. The roots of Ajiman can be traced back to the oban-yaki sold at the store, which was filled with homemade sweet red bean paste made from adzuki beans from Tokachi, Hokkaido, and cooked without additives. The oban-yaki gradually became popular in the region, and in 1980, the chain began operating as “Ajiman” with approximately 300 stores in the Tohoku, Niigata, Kanto, Chugoku, and Kyushu regions. Since the stores are open during the winter, there are many veteran staff members who have been working at Ajiman only during the winter for more than 10 years. Incidentally, the name “Ajiman” is derived from the character “味自慢 (ajijiman),” which means “boasting of flavor,” and is shortened to “Ajiman,” meaning a bun that boasts of its taste.

In February of this year, I had a chance to taste Ajiman in Yamagata, the home of Ajiman, after a long time. I have been eating Ajiman since I was a child, and it is common knowledge how delicious Ajiman tastes when eaten warm, so needless to say, I started eating it in the back seat of the car without waiting for it to arrive home. Personally, I think the best time to eat Ajman is when it is slightly steamed and softened in the pack. Don't forget to try the Custard Cream Ajiman, with its thinly baked crust filled with sweet red bean paste and a generous amount of original custard. And in Yamagata, seasonal Ajiman are also available from December through the height of winter in March, changing monthly, so you will have to check the sales floor every time you go to the supermarket. At this time, the limited-edition product was “Mocchiri Choco Ajiman. If you happen to see it at a supermarket this winter, please try it for yourself.

Winter specialty “Ajiman”
https://ajiman.co.jp/
movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-K7wmkrKIQ
Showroom Information
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/

Reference
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%81%82%E3%81%98%E3%81%BE%E3%82%93