Explore Japan from Kanagawa: February 2012

The 91 years old man & The Japanese Sweet

Mr. Noboru Murofushi
The Master Handcraft Instructor

What do you think a 91 years old man can do? And how does it concern about the Japanese sweet. I’m gonna tell you my new story.

In the early of autumn I went to Yugawara for joining the Japanese sweet class,After reached at Yugawara station .I suddenly went to " Mi-ra-ku-an", the Japanese sweet shop.

The Japanese Sweet class at a shop.

Actually my friend had called here to book this class for me last week, so I just come here and resisted my name when I reached. It was 10:30 a.m. class. The first thing that everyone have to do is washing their hand nicely. Then a staff guided me to the next room.

In that room there were people of all ages. The most interesting one in that room was an old man. He was an instructor at that shop. After he introduced himself ,he told us that he has teach this class for 16 years, and his students had come from many place from Japan, certainly there also had some of foreigners too. His youngest guest is 4 years old and the oldest is 104 years old lady. Vow, ! How different there are !! But it is very interesting.

When everyone was getting ready, Mr. Murofushi , started to introduce about the Japanese sweet ‘ materials and all of the processes. He had prepared a bunch of bean-jam in many colors for making a sweet on that day.

Most of sweet was made in many flowers shape such as “Tsubaki “ a winter flower (A pink flower as below). Some occasions, these sweets was handcrafted in the shape of difference along the season like Santa (On December. On that day my target was one of Tsubaki and one leaf.

Finally everyone start to sculpt the flower. The instructor teach us in an easy way to follow him step by step. He often check what we do and corrected our sweet when it was wrong. After one hour passed , all of us finished our Japanese sweet. The instructor said normally he take 60 to 90 minutes for one class, but sometimes it is longer than that. It is unpredictable. It was depend on the guests on that day.

After the lesson had finish I had ask him my curious that why he start to teach how to sculpt a Japanese sweet. He said when he ran this shop a lot of guest ask him a lot about the materials and also the process of Japanese sweet sculption, therefore he got an idea that why he don’t open the class to tell the people to know more about a Japanese sweet. Nicely.!

If you ask me how I feel ! I would said It was many interesting. Certainly I used to eat these Japanese sweet before, but I really do not know what these Janese sweet come from and how was they do. But one thing that I know on that day was I really took 60 minutes for a piece of flower and a leaf. May be some of you used to had an experience like this before, but it was my first time for me.

The above are the comment from the foreign guestas , read it then you will know that I did not lie to you.

The things that I can learn from this class is not only how to sculpt beans-jam to be the Japanese sweet, but I can learn the Japanese culture and there kindness. My teacher was not only Mr. Murofushi but everyone at that class. Everyone tried to explain and help me to do it. I really cannot explain the way I feel, it was funny? Or, it was interesting , or enjoying. But I would like to suggest you gay to had this awesome experience like me.

Except the A Japanese class, the second floor is a little family factory and I could say there is also a little exhibition room. Mr. Murofushi had run this business for 63 years,

While he take care his shop he keep built his many excellent handcraft (as below picture). It make me know that this old man not a person who want only profit like the other business man, but he do this work because he is really love this thing. Because I can feel it when he teach me in a Japanese sweet class.

Now Mr.Murofushi is 91 years old , and he said he will keep opening this class until he cannot. It is very impressive..

Please come here to get your own experience, if you have a chance.

I think you will not disappoint, even though it is not such that greatest thing, or it not such an excitedness thing, but it is the one of a charming traditional sweet that you could have by your own. And I have to tell you that there is not much a Japanese sweet class in Japan. Mi-ra-ku –an is particular.

After gave thanks to Mr.Murofushi, I had took a walk in Yugawara town, and took some beautiful pictures for you gay. It is really a peace and charming town. Look at the pictures and you will get it.