A Miracle Story

Sawadaya's signature confectionery, "Kurodama," was born in 4. No one knows about that time anymore, but the extraordinary efforts, trial and error, and passion of the craftsmen produced a "round black confectionery," which has been passed down and continues to be loved 95 years later. It's a miracle.

Miracles do not happen suddenly, but are surely something that is created and woven spontaneously by the efforts of many people. I felt this when I saw the craftsmen making Kurodama early in the morning. Although automation has progressed and the sweets-making process has evolved surprisingly, they still insist on "human hands" and carefully hand-make each one.

There's a reason Kurodama has been around for 95 years.
It has been carefully preserved without change. At the same time, it has not stopped moving with the times, but has constantly updated and evolved, making Kurodama a famous confectionery representing Yamanashi, with a richer flavor. And the passion of the maker is naturally passed on to those who eat it.

The filling is 100% green peas

Did you know that Kurodama's bean paste is made from 100% green peas? The bright green bean paste, made only from green peas, is not only beautiful. With just one bite, the rich flavor and soft graininess of the beans spreads in your mouth, making your heart feel plump and round.

The beautiful green "uguisu bean paste" is made only from high-quality green peas, soaked in water to rest, and the next day sugar is added and slowly cooked. Green peas that have been boiled separately, called "kanoko beans," are added whole to the uguisu bean paste. The "kanoko beans" are allowed to absorb the nectar little by little over a period of four days, giving them a more green pea-like flavor.

The freshly roasted beans, full to bursting and shining brightly, look just like jewels.
To preserve the natural gentle sweetness and bean-like texture of the beans... To bring a smile to the face of everyone who eats it...

With this thought in mind, the bean paste balls are rolled into beautiful circles. Although machines are used for the rolling process, experienced craftsmen still check the shape of each bean paste ball by hand.
They don't skip any steps in any process, but rather put effort into each step. This is one of the reasons why "Kurodama" continues to be "Kurodama".

Yokan making cannot be quantified

The green pea paste is covered with brown sugar yokan, handmade from Okinawan brown sugar. The yokan is made first thing every morning, and even after decades of doing it, it is difficult to make it consistently. This is how delicate the process of making yokan is, and it is affected by factors such as the temperature and humidity of the day. It is difficult to quantify because it is by no means uniform, and the craftsman's eye and sense of touch are relied upon.

The yokan is heated to a constant consistency and added little by little. When the red bean paste balls are dropped into the piping hot pot, they are quickly scooped up, glossily coated with the yokan. This process of "tempura" is also the result of skilled craftsmanship.

If you look closely, you'll see that the black balls, which are all neatly arranged in a beautiful circle, each have a slightly different expression. When you notice this, they become a much more adorable and lovable candy than usual.

"Sending Maru" has become a part of everyday life

Kurodama is committed to making everything by hand, so no two products are the same, they are all different and each one is good, but their essence is the same.
"Rather than placing too much emphasis on the external 'shape', we also value the 'content' that enhances from the inside, and continue to create well-balanced, rounded 'appearances.' That is the round appearance we are aiming for," said Kurosawa Shintaro, fifth-generation representative director of Sawadaya.

Based on the concept of "Sending circles as a part of everyday life," the round shape of Kurodama is filled with Sawadaya's philosophy.
The green of the "uguisu bean paste" and the sweetness of the "brown sugar yokan" enhance each other to create a delicious treat, bringing smiles to the faces of the people who make it, eat it, give it to the giver, and receive it. Smiles give birth to many happy moments, creating a chain of small happiness that adds a little color to the mundane everyday life.
This is Kurodama, a round confectionery made by a long-established company that Yamanashi is proud of.