If you’re someone who enjoys making treats like cakes and pastries, then perhaps you have first hand knowledge of how baking can sometimes be a tricky affair. Well, in Japan, we have a whole category of wagashi, or traditional Japanese sweets, that aren’t baked at all, called namagashi (literally, “raw confectionaries”). Namagashi are typically made from various colorful bean pastes and often crafted into delicate seasonal-themed shapes.
Earlier this month, we participated in a seminar to experience what namagashi-making is like. Join us as we see how a master chef creates beautiful flowers from bean paste, and then try our not-so-expert hand at creating our own confections!

Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
Live-action One Piece’s Luffy teaches Sesame Street’s Elmo a Japanese word for friendship[Video]
Tiny house by Muji finally goes on sale in Japan
Hachiji juppun mae – A Japanese phrase that even Japanese people can’t agree on the meaning of
World’s oldest kendo video is part martial arts, part Buster Keaton, all amazing
Boys’ love at the temple? Sensual ikemen art that raised eyebrows in Japan now set to be removed
Japanese Mom’s son makes Mario Maker course just for her, easy to clear, impossible to forget【Vid】
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 1]
Japan’s craziest burger chain takes menchi katsu to new extreme levels
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Japanese drugstore sells onigiri at pre-stupid era prices, but how do they compare to 7-Eleven?
Viral Japanese cheesecake from Osaka has a lesser known rival called Aunt Wanda
Lawson adds doughnuts to its convenience store sweets range, but are they good enough to go viral?
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Hachiji juppun mae – A Japanese phrase that even Japanese people can’t agree on the meaning of
World’s oldest kendo video is part martial arts, part Buster Keaton, all amazing
Boys’ love at the temple? Sensual ikemen art that raised eyebrows in Japan now set to be removed
Japanese Mom’s son makes Mario Maker course just for her, easy to clear, impossible to forget【Vid】
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Our authentic, homemade red pickled ginger triumphs over store-bought versions【SoraKitchen】
Japan cherry blossom forecast update moves up sakura dates for many parts of the country
Sleep in a futuristic space pod at this interstellar capsule hotel just outside of Tokyo
The fish in rural Fukui that rivals Japan’s most auspicious sea bream
Rumiko Takahashi explains why her characters can’t ever just come right out and say “I love you”
We find the shortest karaoke song in existence, approximate running time: 1 second
Kyoto shrine holding beautiful after-dark cherry blossom event this spring
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026