Wagashi

There are many opportunities to attend Obon Festivals here in the Bay Area.  This mid-summer celebration to honor one's ancestors is one of the most important for Japanese Buddhists and is held on three (consecutive) weekends this month in San Jose, Mountain View, and Palo Alto.

Inspired by all things Japanese (and fondly remembering our delightful trips to Osakaya), I went on a hunt for a mochi maker in the city.  Much to my delight, it didn't take long to find Benkyodo right here in our own Japantown. If Yelp reviews are accurate, it is a local favorite!  

Check out the spread.  There is no need to drive to Sacramento for FRESH wagashi!

Benkyodo is also an American diner! :)

We came home with 14 pieces of manju and mochi.  (We're still trying to figure out terminology, luckily that does not require holding off on the "taste test" portion).  From the top, L to R:

1st row: Mushi/Fukashi (steam bun with smooth red beans), Pink Habutai (pink mochi with smooth white lima beans), Yomogi (green mochi with whole red beans), Strawberry Mochi (between 1st and 2nd row, self explanatory!), Kuri (manju baked with smooth white lima beans)

2nd row:  Red bean paste mochi with sticky rice filling, Age (donut with smooth red bean), Kuri/Goma (manju baked with smooth lima beans and sesame garnish), Chofu (pancake wrapped with plain sweet rice),  Imo (baked with smooth lima beans and cinnamon coating)

3rd row: Habutai (white mochi with smooth beans), Kinako (mochi with smooth red beans and sprinkled with soybean flour), Suama (pink, green and white plain sweet rice), Inaka/Yabure (steam bun with whole red beans).

My favorite is the pink habutai, M's favorite is age, and K's favorite is the strawberry mochi

I wholeheartedly agree with K that next to the out-of-this-world lemon flavored mochi from Osakaya, seasonal strawberry mochi ranks "way up there".  Learn more about wagashi here.

Manju Handmade Perfection is a 2001 article about Benkyodo's Okamura brothers.  Retirement???  Nooooooo...... but we just discovered Benkyodo!  It would be very sad for us all when they retire because as Ricky Okamura said in the interview, "There will be no one left to make manju."   Last Manju Standing

On the way back to the car, we stopped at Benkyodo's neighbor, Paper Tree, a very lovely paper store.  A beautiful tessellated origami kimono robe decorates their store window.  It is life-size!

Inside are packets and sheets of paper of all sizes to fold gorgeous kusudama models

Itty bitty paper for small hands (or experts!)

Chiyogami. Looking at this photo makes me want to run out there and grab a few sheets :sigh: 

Mochi eat, origami do.  Fortune cookie says:  The path that leads to Benkyodo and Paper Tree will be a familiar and well-worn path.