Left: In addition to the celebratory sea bream and plover, higashi sweets come in many charming animal shapes like rabbits and tanuki raccoon dogs. (Photos: Kyokasho Kanshundo)
Right: A box of higashi sweets come in auspicious designs such as cherry blossoms, irises, and flowing water. (Photo: Kagizen Yoshifusa)

Before it became the everyday sweetener it is today, sugar in Japan was an expensive, non-perishable luxury item used for special occasions only. Crafted in sugar, higashi are beautifully shaped and colored confections presented as gifts.

Some higashi are made solely of sugar, while others are made by mixing sugar with rice, beans, wheat flour, or starch syrup. What these confections have in common is that they are formed by pressing and compacting sugar in wooden molds rather than being baked in an oven.

The quality of higashi design is largely determined by the wooden molds used. These molds, carved from mountain cherry wood with chisels and knives, are themselves masterpieces of handcrafted artistry. It is, however, the artisan’s techniques — blending ingredients, adding color, judging moisture levels, and making adjustments in how the mixture is pressed into and removed from the mold — that ultimately craft the beautiful shapes of these confections.

Often given as casual gifts today, higashi now come in a wide array of designs, not just as symbols of celebration such as sea bream and cranes. Today, you might see natural motifs and traditional patterns, as well. Higashi designs symbolize wishes of good fortune and an appreciation of seasons throughout the year. Try some higashi and savor their gentle sweetness as you consider the meaning these small confections hold.