[Tokoname] Hove you Tried the Topical "Toilet no Saichu" by Japanese Sweets Shop Ohkura Mochi?

Everyone, do you know "Toilet no Saichu", a Japanese sweets "monaka (beans-jam-filled wafers)" in the shape of a toilet bowl?
The package says "Toilet no Saichu", which catches our eyes, and it has become a very popular product that has been sold out every day since it was released.

Ohkura Mochi, a long-established Japanese confectionery store in Tokoname City, is the producer of such "Toilet no Saichu". Actually, it is a collaboration product with the housing equipment manufacturer "LIXIL".

Why did "LIXIL" and a long-established Japanese confectionery store collaborate? There was a deep history related to the history of the town.

This time, we visited the store directly and asked about the unknown story behind its birth.

Why Toilet?

Why Toilet shape? You might think that, but here in Tokoname, sanitary ware has been popular for a long time.

Tokoname ware, which was born in the late Heian period, is a traditional craft and is considered one of the six oldest kilns in Japan (Nihon rokkoyo). In the Muromachi and Azuchi-Momoyama periods, it mainly produced tea ceremony and ikebana (flower arrangement) utensils, and by the middle of the Edo period, earthenware pots.

In the Meiji era, clay pipes, sanitary ware such as washbasins and toilet bowls, tiles, flowerpots, etc., were also actively produced.

Even now, many sanitary wares are made in this town.

"Ohkura Mochi" founded in 1951.

"Ohkura mochi" has been loved by the locals in such a pottery town. The shop is located about 5 minutes by car from the "Pottery Trail".

It is a long-established Japanese confectionery shop that is popular with many people.

An assortment of popular bean paste mochi.

At Ohkura Mochi, they are very particular about the ingredients. Adzuki beans are homemade bean paste made with 100% adzuki beans from Tokachi, Hokkaido. Mochi rice is made by scrutinizing each ingredient, such as purchasing pesticide-free rice and low-pesticide rice as brown rice from local farmers.

In Tokoname, it seems that the culture of mochi confectionery has long been rooted as a nutritional supplement during pottery work.

You can also enjoy sweets in the store. There are a wide variety of menus, including the popular an-mochi, jumbo-sized shaved ice that you can enjoy all year round, sweets, and ozoni (mochi in soup).
Counter seats with a view of the courtyard are also recommended.

"Ohkura mochi". The flagship product is a flavorful rice cake made with mugwort harvested on the Chita Peninsula, wrapped in 100% red bean paste from Hokkaido.

Signboard product "shaved ice" along with Ohkura mochi

Kyoto-style ozoni with white soy sauce "Good luck red and white ozoni"

Because they are working on local production for local consumption, not only the ingredients but also the tableware and teapots provided in the store are all made in Tokoname.

The reason is that “Anko” and “○nko” are similar! ?
Born as a souvenir from "LIXIL Enokido Factory"!

Mr. Noritatsu Inaba, the third generation owner of Ohkura Mochi. Mr. Inaba is also focusing on activities to publicize the charm of the Chita Peninsula, including Tokoname.

-Why did you decide to create a collaboration product with LIXIL?

Mr. Inaba:"It all started about 15 years ago. At a social gathering at the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I asked by Mr. Teruzo Ina, founder of Ina Ceramics and then chairman of INAX, 'Don't 'anko (red bean paste)' and 'unko (poop)' sounds alike? ? I want to make a sanitary ware related product that uses red bean paste instead of poop. Since Tokoname is a city of sanitary ware'.

On the spot, the chairman laughed out loud and said, 'Please try it.' However, at that time, there were problems about anticipated complaints and the mold, so it was not realized. Of course, I had a secret feeling that I wanted to realize it someday.

In the midst of this, after 15 years, the factory made a proposal: "Let's make souvenirs for people who come to visit the LIXIL Enokido Factory." Now that words like "butts" and "poops" have gained more understanding as a motif of products, it may be possible now! I want everyone to laugh because it's an era like this. With that in mind, we decided to start working toward commercialization in earnest.

LIXIL's designers were also in high spirits. Using LIXIL's latest toilet "Satis" as a model, the company's technical team designed it with CAD and even made a prototype with a 3D printer. We are particular about the width of the toilet seat and the position of the stopper. I'm trying to make the red bean paste looks more like a real THING. ”

It is surprising that the designer of LIXIL was involved! "Toilet no Saichu" is reproduced just like the real thing, and it is full of playfulness.

Mr. Inaba:"After many trials, the product was finally completed in June. At first, we started selling it as a souvenir from the factory tour at INAX Museum gift shop in August, and at Ohkura Mochi in September.

Unexpectedly, there was a lot of reaction on SNS and the media, and even now it is sold out every day. ”

To liven up Tokoname

Mr. Inaba: "Many people ask if we can expand our sales channels, but this product is filled with gratitude and love for the local industry.

At the root of my desire is a strong desire to convey the charm of Tokoname, and if visitors come all the way to Tokoname, I would like them to learn about the Tokoname pottery industry, such as the "Pottery Trail" and the "INAX Museum".

There are still many attractive places in Tokoname, so I would like to continue to spread its charm in various ways. ”

Mr. Inaba is active beyond the framework of a Japanese confectionery shop in order to spread the charm of Tokoname City. I can't wait to see what he does in the future.

How does it taste?

A humorous package that says "Now in use!"
SAICHU means "Now in use" in Japanese, and monaka (最中) can also be read as SAICHU.

The price is 324 JPY (incl. tax) each, so it's a great price for a small gift.

When you open the inside, you will find a leaflet, a toilet-shaped monaka skin, and anko.
The leaflet says, "The correct way to eat".

When I put the bean paste into the toilet bowl according to the procedure, it was filled to overflowing. The more I looked at it, the more realistic it looked, and I couldn't help but smile.

One of the fun things about this monaka is that you want to take pictures from different angles. When I tasted it, the skin was crispy and it had a simple taste with a modest sweetness, and it was very delicious.

I had the opportunity to interview them and felt that they were filled with a desire to make Tokoname more exciting with the "Toilet no Monaka".

Tokoname is easily accessible from Nagoya, and there are many tourist attractions in Tokoname. Feel the history of Tokoname while eating monaka, and try to visit the spots beyond. If you get tired of walking, let's heal yourself by eating the delicious sweets of Ohkura Mochi.

photo by masaki hoshiyama