Bokksu Snack Box
Meet the Maker: Daimonji Ame Honpo
DAIMONJI AME HONPO
Established in 1921
Located in Kyoto
Koichi Ota, 5th Generation of Daimonji
Daimonji Ame Honpo is one of Bokksu's oldest friends, so it's fitting that they are the subject of our very first Maker Story. Daimonji occupies a small storefront brimming with candy on Nishioji-Dori. In our opinion, their handmade candy is the best around! They always blow us away with their ability to transform any flavor into delicious candy.
When we visited, we spoke with Koichi Ota,
5th generation candymaker and son of the current Daimonji president. Their small, family-run operation has been passed down for almost 100 years since its founding in 1921! They began as a confectionary wholesaler, only starting to make their own candy in 1946. In 1954, the company was officially renamed Daimonji Ame Honpo.
Walking through the store is like stepping into another era. The shop sits in an older Kyoto style-building called unagi no nedoko (meaning "eel bed") for its long deep shape. The narrow store has displays and a small counter for ringing up. Behind this counter is a door to the workshop where Daimonji makes all the candy. A small team of men and women with a lifetime of experience make fresh batches every day to stock the shelves.
Daimonji craftsman making candy
Walking through the store is like stepping into another era
The atmosphere and production process brings to mind the word shokunin, "artisan". Touring the Daimonji workshop and store, you can tell they take pride in their work. To make the candy, sugar syrup is cooked until it reaches a specific temperature. It is then poured out to cool until it is malleable, and the experienced craftsmen begin expertly mixing in the flavor and kneading the candy by hand. It takes years of practice to learn the exact timing and movements necessary to produce quality candy and to be able to tell when mixing is complete just by the texture. After being mixed, the candy is cut and shaped before being wrapped and packed by hand.
Every candy Daimonji makes reflects their attention to detail, and we are so honored to partner with them to create new innovative flavors like Yuzu Sake and Ramune crafted only for Bokksu. If you're ever in Kyoto, stop by their store and you can even try your hand at traditional Japanese candy-making with one of their classes.
Top: Momoko, Danny, and Ota-san discussing future candies
Bottom: Inside Daimonji's Store
DAIMONJI AME HONPO
Established in 1921
Located in Kyoto
Koichi Ota, 5th Generation of Daimonji
Daimonji Ame Honpo is one of Bokksu's oldest friends, so it's fitting that they are the subject of our very first Maker Story. Daimonji occupies a small storefront brimming with candy on Nishioji-Dori. In our opinion, their handmade candy is the best around! They always blow us away with their ability to transform any flavor into delicious candy.
When we visited, we spoke with Koichi Ota,
5th generation candymaker and son of the current Daimonji president. Their small, family-run operation has been passed down for almost 100 years since its founding in 1921! They began as a confectionary wholesaler, only starting to make their own candy in 1946. In 1954, the company was officially renamed Daimonji Ame Honpo.
Walking through the store is like stepping into another era. The shop sits in an older Kyoto style-building called unagi no nedoko (meaning "eel bed") for its long deep shape. The narrow store has displays and a small counter for ringing up. Behind this counter is a door to the workshop where Daimonji makes all the candy. A small team of men and women with a lifetime of experience make fresh batches every day to stock the shelves.
Daimonji craftsman making candy
Walking through the store is like stepping into another era
The atmosphere and production process brings to mind the word shokunin, "artisan". Touring the Daimonji workshop and store, you can tell they take pride in their work. To make the candy, sugar syrup is cooked until it reaches a specific temperature. It is then poured out to cool until it is malleable, and the experienced craftsmen begin expertly mixing in the flavor and kneading the candy by hand. It takes years of practice to learn the exact timing and movements necessary to produce quality candy and to be able to tell when mixing is complete just by the texture. After being mixed, the candy is cut and shaped before being wrapped and packed by hand.
Every candy Daimonji makes reflects their attention to detail, and we are so honored to partner with them to create new innovative flavors like Yuzu Sake and Ramune crafted only for Bokksu. If you're ever in Kyoto, stop by their store and you can even try your hand at traditional Japanese candy-making with one of their classes.
Top: Momoko, Danny, and Ota-san discussing future candies
Bottom: Inside Daimonji's Store
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