Candy Craftsman Finds Balance Between Art and Snack

Ever found yourself looking at food and declaring “this looks too good to eat”?

That feeling we get is one of the true pleasures of modern eating but, inevitably, we do pick up our cutlery and dig in. After all, it’s still just food.

Then along comes Shinri Tezuka, a candy craftsman whose sugary treats balance so delicately between art and snack that even thinking about how they taste feels like a sin!

This design uses real gold leaf for the wing tips.

Yes, these are lollipops, hand-crafted and sold at the 26 year-olds store, Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin, in a temple district of Tokyo.

The goldfish is the most popular design.

The intricate and realistic designs are the result of Tezuka’s lifelong passion for sculpting, but the craft itself dates back 1200 years to the Edo period, when masters of the Amezaiku tradition traveled the streets to sell their creations. Amezaiku, at the time, was predominantly seen as a form of entertainment, with artists often telling stories while moulding their sweets.

Tezuka demonstrates his craft at a local workshop.

Like his predecessors, Tezuka travels too, holding workshops across the country to inspire children and adults alike to try their hand at amezaiku. He’s also appeared on Japanese television shows, and is often hired for parties to bring requests to life with lightning speed.

Five new designs to celebrate the arrival of summer.

Undoubtedly, one of Tezuka’s most unique offerings are his inherently Japan-inspired summer treats.

This year, his theme mirrors the patterns found on traditional Japanese fans, known as uchiwa. They feature, from left to right:

• A dragonfly floating across a stream.
• Two swallows darting about beneath the shade of a tree.
• Pink hydrangeas in full bloom.
• Three chidori soaring across the ocean.
• Morning glory flowers lapping up the warmth of the sun.

Just some of the designs available at Tezuka’s shops.

It seems like such finely detailed items would take a long time to create, but as you can see in the video below, Tezuka can put together a completed lollipop in a remarkably short amount of time.

Unfortunately, you’ll have to visit Japan to try one of these masterful creations. Personally, I’m just happy getting to appreciate the craft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFfOfeYoZ8I

To learn more about Shinri Tezuka and Asakusa Amezaiku Ameshin, visit ame-shin.com.