In 2005, I wished that Ogurasanso would make my favorite chocolate covered kakinotane in dark chocolate. Three years later, my wish came true...Omoisomeshi are spicy kakinotane rice crackers covered with high quality Belgium chocolate. This year, Ogurasanso came out with dark chocolate & matcha. (The original flavors are strawberry, milk chocolate & white chocolate.)
On a recent trip to the Ogurasanso shop in Takarazuka, I also picked up Kyonodaikoku which are a type of amanatto (ama means sweet and natto means fermented). These large black beans from Tanba (a city in Kyoto prefecture), are soaked in sugar water then dried (I think).
Both were a great snack and went nicely with a hot cup of yamecha. Yamecha is the name of Fukuoka's sencha (green tea).
p.s. today is the Honolulu Marathon in Hawaii...it is 10 years ago that I 