When you hear "whale rice cake", you may think "whale meat in a rice cake? You may think, "Whale meat in a rice cake? Whale rice cake is a local confectionery of Ajigasawa town, which is made of Uruchi rice, glutinous rice powder, azuki beans, and sugar, and has a simple and elegant taste. A book from the Edo period (1603-1867) describes how to make whale cakes with two layers of black and white as a typical Kyoto sweets, and the name "whale cakes" came from their resemblance to the cross-section of a whale's skin.
From the Edo period to the Meiji period, various techniques and cultures were introduced by the Kitamae Ship, which connected Ajigasawa Port and Osaka, both of which were active on the Sea of Japan. Whale cakes are one of them, and each area has its own unique sweets besides Ajigasawa Town.
The photos used in this page are taken from Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization. *The contents and services in this article are subject to change. *All images are for reference only. Click here for other recommended gourmet foods in the area.
