Awamanju (Steamed millet and rice cakes with sweet bean paste)
A traditional Yanaizu treat made with a wish to avoid misfortune

About Awamanju (Steamed millet and rice cakes with sweet bean paste)

Awamanju, beloved in Yanaizu in Fukushima’s Aizu region, is a traditional Japanese sweet known for its vivid yellow color and distinctive texture. Its story dates to 1818, when a great fire struck Fukuman Kokuzoson. The head priest, Kangan, is said to have distributed the sweets as protective charms, wishing that people would never again encounter (awa) misfortune.

The dough is made by combining glutinous rice and millet, wrapping it around fine strained sweet bean paste, and steaming it. The chewy rice and millet’s slightly poppy texture pair with the gently sweet filling.

The source notes that millet contains dietary fiber and iron, and that the vivid yellow color comes from gardenia coloring. In Yanaizu, long-established shops including Hasegawaya Confectionery, Yanaizu Manju Honpo Koike Confectionery, Iwaiya Confectionery, and Inabaya Confectionery each offer their own variation. Awamanju is especially delicious freshly steamed, and also makes a popular souvenir—a taste of Fukushima’s tradition and culture.

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