Japanese Wagashi-Style Dessert Craze — Edible Art Trends Up

You’re walking through New York after dinner, maybe around SoHo or Chelsea, hunting for that new, edgy dessert that will rattle your senses. You may find some nice treats, like gourmet rice pudding or rich cookies fit for night owls, but what you may find here in the USA is nowhere near the register of what you can find during the same walk in Japan.

For decades, Japan has triumphed as the leaders of innovation in everything from technology and automobiles to fashion and, of course, they gave us sushi. Now, in uniting artists and dessert chefs, they bring us Wagashi. Often served with tea, Wagashi-style desserts are characterized by their artistic motifs and goals of capturing both abstract and realist imaginations. The result is an experience that will leave you awestruck and inspired. Here is an example of Hotaru wagashi, beautifully constructed:

So, for all of you die-hard dessert connoisseurs, next time you are planning an international escapade, consider Tokyo. Oh, and if that’s not incentive enough –  they also have Cat Cafés. For more about wagashi, check out the Japan Times, where the treats rate their own category.