🍱 Igamanju
“Oshimon” (or “okoshimon”) is a seasonal confectionery from Aichi Prefecture made by kneading rice flour with boiling water, shaping it in a mold, and decorating it with colored powder. In the Nishi-Mikawa region it's customary to eat “Igamanju" during the Doll's Festival (Momo no Sekku). “Igamanju” is a confection made by coating either coarse or fine red bean paste in rice flour and then decorating the surface with colored glutinous rice. While “Igamanju” can also be found outside of Aichi Prefecture in Kyoto and Kyushu, it's a unique custom of the Nishi-Mikawa region to eat “Igamanju” as part of the Girls' Day (Hinamatsuri) celebration. There are various theories about the origin of the name “Igamanju.” Some believe that the glutinous rice used on the surface of the confection resembles the texture of a chestnut (“iga” in Japanese). Another theory suggests that it comes from the historical event of Ieyasu Tokugawa's journey known as “Iga-goe,” which means crossing the Iga region. Yet another theory links the name to the aroma (“kaori” in Japanese) that emanates while steaming the manju, as it is derived from the word ("ii no ka”) which means the fragrance of rice. The “igamanju” you can eat in Okazaki City is made of pink, yellow, and green. Some say that the pink means peach blossoms, yellow means rape flower blossoms, and green means new buds. Others say the pink (red) means warding off evil, yellow means prayers for a good harvest, and green means vitality. Some suggest that this vivid and colorful appearance is one of the reasons it has become established as a traditional Girls' Day confection.