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Kashiki-gata is a wood mould used in making Japanese sweets. The wood must be carved in reverse for the desired design and uniform shape of the candy, and to achieve a beautiful shape this requires a highly refined skill. Currently, there are only a few craftsmen in all of Japan who can create Kashiki. Mr. Ichihara is the sole Kashiki-gata craftsman for the entire Shikoku region. Kashiki-gata, essential for preparing Japanese sweets, began during the Edo Period, and has been made in the Kagawa Prefecture since 1955. They are made from cherry blossom trees about 100 years old, thoroughly dried. Various types of patterns, such as fish or flowers, are engraved in reverse for the desired design and uniform shape of the candy. Place sugar or bean paste in between two of the finished wood moulds to create various shaped candies. Although the Kashiki-gata seems quite plain, from its simple beauty it's popular today as an ornament, and it produces candies that are visually satisfying as well as delicious.

Made From Cherry Blossom Trees About 100 Years Old, Thoroughly Dried

	Japanese sweets can be divided into 5 categories - the "Yakimono" best known for manju, and the Wasanbon type of "Utsumono", as well as "Nerimono", "Ushimono", and "Nagashimono". Colorful Japanese sweets are as expressionistic as the changing of the seasons, and made in various different plans it is also very artistic. Except for Nagashimono, the manufacturing process for the unique shape utilizes Kashiki-gata. The Chinese "Mooncakes" sweets also use a wooden mould similar to Kashiki-gata.

Fundamentally, Kashiki-gata is mostly used industrially, which each mould being specially order-made one by one. However, Mr. Ichihara also accepts various orders from outside the business world. He has also made a Kashiki-gata as a souvenir for a Louis Vuitton party, with the mould made in their famous trademark. He has also been called upon by artisans in the glass or paper-clay field to make ones out of glass, and also often featured in the window display of department stores, Kashiki-gata receives a lot of attention as an ornamental piece of art. For order-made or items not listed here, please contact us. inquiries

Glass artisan Junko Hirama was able to overcome various obstacles to reproduce the crane, turtle, pine tree, bamboo, and plum shapes from the wood mould in beautiful white glass.		Featured in a window display of the very famous department store, Ginza Mitsukoshi. Hang the wood mould as is for a painting-like image. Its beauty will have people stopping to take a look.

White motif made from the wood mould and the shapes of those moulds featured in Mr. Ichihara's show room.

The image of the shaped sugar. The beautiful finished shape exceeds expectations during the sculpting stage.

	■Born March 19, 1946 in Kagawa Prefecture ■1968 - Began work in his family's field of wood moulds ■1973 - Began engraving as a wood mould craftsman ■1999 - Kashiki-gata was recognized as a Traditional Arts and Crafts of Kagawa Prefecture, also Mr. Ichihara was recognized as Traditional Industrial Artisan of the Prefecture. ■November 25, 2004 - Received the "Craftsman of Today" award, an award of excellent skill, from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare ■November 16, 2006 - Received the Medal With Yellow Ribbon

A mark indicating a traditional craft product of Kagawa Prefecture. Indicates an product for use in everyday life recognised as being created using traditional materials and techniques passed down from at least the Meiji era.