Goshiki Manju
A traditional confection with five colors, each rich in meaning

About Goshiki Manju

Goshiki Manju (五色饅頭, Goshiki manju) is a beloved specialty of Kanazawa and consists of five types of traditional Japanese confections bundled together.

Its origin dates back to the 6th year of the Keicho era (1601), when Tama-hime, the daughter of Tokugawa Shogun Hidetada, married Maeda Toshitsune, the third lord of the Maeda clan. These five-colored confections were created by master confectioner Yoshizo Kashida as celebratory sweets for this grand marriage.

The five colors of Goshiki Manju—representing the blessings of nature such as the sun, moon, mountains, sea, and countryside—each have a unique meaning:
- "Sun" features a red-tinted rice flour topping on a round mochi (sweet rice cake) filled with smooth red bean paste.
- "Moon" is a white-skinned steamed bun.
- "Countryside" ("Sato") is a smooth red bean paste core wrapped in mochi and coated in brightly steamed yellow glutinous rice grains.
- "Sea" is a diamond-shaped rice cake filled with bean paste, arranged to evoke gentle ocean waves.
- "Mountain" is a round steamed yokan (sweet bean jelly) symbolizing fertile rice fields.

Even today, Goshiki Manju remains an essential celebratory confection in Kanazawa, especially at weddings, where it continues to be cherished as a symbol of joy and gratitude for nature's blessings.

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