That day, greedy Kawanishi visited a wagashi shop he had long been curious about!
It was Koshido, located in Suehiro, Suwa.
I spoke with President Kurita. To my surprise, this long-established wagashi shop has been in business for 99 years since Taisho 14 (1925). The current president appears to be the third generation. By chance, five days before my visit, a local newspaper ran a story saying students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School had designed the shop’s classic packaging and stickers. Even amid such history, I was charmed by this flexible approach and arranged an appointment.
According to the president, the Suwa Confectioners’ Association once included 60–70 shops, and many were in the city, but now only 17 remain. I want to cherish the wagashi culture left by earlier generations and pass it on. I personally love anko (sweet red bean paste), so I’ve always liked wagashi. That day I learned that wagashi can be enjoyed in every season, and I gained new insights!!! In spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi; for the equinoctial week there are botamochi and ohagi; in autumn there are inoko-mochi and tsutsugayu, and more. I hope to introduce these delicate and delicious wagashi to everyone!

◎ Koshido
📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture
☎ 0266-52-0920
◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00
◎ Regular holiday: Closed Wednesdays
◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/

That day, I went to Koshido, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Suwa. Mr. Kurita is the shop’s president and craftsman. The shop has been open for 99 years, and he is the third generation. On November 9th, I saw a newspaper article about the shop: students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School designed stickers for the product.
He told me that long ago there were 60–70 wagashi shops in Suwa city, but now only 17 remain. I feel it’s important to preserve this great tradition for future generations. I didn’t know wagashi could be enjoyed across the four seasons! It’s true. In autumn there are dango, inoko-mochi, and tsutsugayu; in spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi, among others. I still have much to learn about traditional Japanese sweets, and I will continue to write about seasonal wagashi from now on!
◎ KOSHIDO
📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
◎ Tel: 0266-52-0920
◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00
◎ Regular holiday: Closed on Wednesdays
◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/