Maker’s Story: Obuse Chestnut Snacks from Kurian Fumido
Maker’s Story: Obuse Chestnut Snacks from Kurian Fumido
Sue Lynn
Published on 2024年8月25日
Updated on 2024年8月28日
Maker's Story
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Located in the heart of Japan’s main island of Honshu, Nagano (長野県) is a mountainous landlocked prefecture that is famed for its various well-loved local produce, such as apples, beef, and even shichimi pepper. Another specialty from the region is Obuse chestnuts, of which the Nagano town of Obuse (小布施) is famous for!
We are thrilled to introduce two snacks from a famous Obuse confectionery maker, Kurian Fumido (株式会社栗庵風味堂), as part of JAPAN RAIL CLUB’s “Flavours of Nagano” Omiyage Snack Box. We spoke to Kurian Fumido’s Head of Sales Mr. Oba (大峡) to find out more about their unique chestnut snacks as well as the company’s committed relation to Nagano.
Introduction to Kurian Fumido: A legacy of chestnut sweets
Thank you for speaking with us, Oba-san! Please share with us about Kurian Fumido’s history and founding story.
Founded in 1864 (Genji 1), our company Kurian Fumido is located in the picturesque town of Obuse (小布施), Nagano Prefecture, where we have been manufacturing and selling confectionery made with Obuse’s local chestnuts. The area of Obuse has been well-known for its chestnuts since the Edo Period, and we take pride in producing traditional chestnut confectionery such as “Kuri-yokan” (栗ようかん chestnut-flavoured yokan), using time-honoured methods.
In recent years, Kurian Fumido has also focused on creating new and unprecedented products, including the bear-shaped snack Kuma-san Monaka (くまさんもなか), as well as Zenkoji Baumkuchen (善光寺バウム) which is available in JAPAN RAIL CLUB’s August 2024 Omiyage Snack Box.
A taste of Nagano: Zenkoji Baumkuchen & Arukuma Chestnut Monaka
We are honoured to have both the Zenkoji Baumkuchen and the Nagano-special Arukuma Chestnut Monaka (信州限定アルクマ栗もなか) snack in the “Flavours of Nagano” Omiyage Snack Box! Please tell us more about them.
Officially recognised by the temple of Zenkoji itself, an icon of Nagano, Zenkoji Baum is made with domestically grown matcha-flavoured dough, filled with smooth azuki bean paste made from Hokkaido red beans and Japanese chestnuts. Inspired by Zenkoji’s grand bell, this baumkuchen is a popular treat enjoyed by people of all ages, especially amongst the elderly and children.
As for the monaka, the one featured in August 2024’s Omiyage Snack Box is a Shinshu-limited edition version featuring the shape of Arukuma (アルクマ), which is the official character mascot of Nagano Prefecture! In this handmade snack, fill the Arukuma-shaped monaka shells with our delicious chestnut paste and enjoy the satisfying crunch and excitement of creating your own treat.
Both snacks feature key ingredients that are made and produced domestically in Japan, ensuring a rich and authentic flavour experience.
Must-try chestnut confectionery from Kurian Fumido
We think our subscribers would love both of those snacks! What are some of your company’s representative products?
As a chestnut-specialty company, our representative products highlight the natural flavours of Obuse chestnuts. Apart from the “Kuriyokan”, which is a high-quality agar confectionery, the other flagship product is “Kurikanoko” (栗かの子) which is made from domestically grown chestnuts and coated with candied chestnuts.
Another popular treat of ours is the award-winning confectionery “Hatsukuri” (初栗) which features sweet bean paste and candied chestnuts wrapped in an original castella-style (sponge cake -style) dough and baked in foil. Hatsukuri won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Award at the 25th National Confectionary Exposition (全国菓子大博覧会).
Nagano: The perfect summer escapade
Kurian Fumido is based in Obuse, a town in Nagano. Are there any attractions in Obuse and Nagano that you would like international visitors to know about?
Nagano Prefecture is a green prefecture rich in nature, with forests covering approximately 80% of its vast area of about 13,000m2. It is famous as a summer retreat due to its pleasant climate with low temperatures and humidity even in the height of summer. Many tourists come to admire the magnificent scenery of the Japanese Alps and other mountains, as well as to enjoy outdoor activities such as mountain climbing and skiing.
With a population of approximately 11,000, Obuse is a beautiful town blessed with rich nature on the eastern bank of the Chikuma River (千曲川). In the Edo Period (1603–1868), the town flourished as a key transport and economic centre. Today, Obuse is a popular tourist destination, visited by nearly 1.2 million people a year and is known as the “Town of Chestnuts, Hokusai, and Flowers” (栗と北斎と花のまち).
Why Hokusai? Well, the renowned ukiyo-e artist visited Obuse frequently in his later years. The paintings he created during his time here, known as “Obuse-mono” (小布施もの), are showcased at the Shinshu Obuse Hokusai Museum (信州小布施 北斎館), a 12-minute walk from Obuse Station.
The museum also showcases other masterpieces like “Fuji Koshi Ryū” (富士越龍) and “Two Beauties” (二美人). Visitors from not just Japan, but also from overseas, come to Obuse to learn more about Hokusai’s life. If you’re interested in Japanese art and culture, a visit to the Hokusai Museum is a must.
Oba-san, thank you so much for your time once again! Do you have a message to share with our readers?
While we have previously introduced souvenir products through our overseas agents, this is the first time we have had the opportunity to introduce them directly to our customers. Thanks to JAPAN RAIL CLUB, this is also the first time that the “Shinshu Limited Arukuma Chestnut Monaka” and “Zenkoji Baum” have been introduced to international audiences, and we are excited to showcase our sweets to people all over the world!
Obuse chestnut snacks have been loved by people all over Japan for many years, and ours is a perfect blend of tradition and innovation. Please give our sweets a try and we hope you will like them!
JAPAN RAIL CLUB is proud to feature two of Kurian Fumido’s snacks as part of our exciting Nagano-special ensemble in the “Flavours of Nagano” Omiyage Snack Box. For more unique and local snacks from Japan, subscribe to JAPAN RAIL CLUB today!
MEET THE AUTHOR
Sue Lynn
Currently based in Tokyo, Sue Lynn first came to Japan as a university exchange student. With 6 years of experience in Japan’s inbound tourism, she is familiar with Japan, particularly on rail passes and East Japan spots, and has a passion for travelling.
Sue is also passionate about Japan’s thrifting culture, and is keen to uncover more hidden gems while visiting all 47 prefectures during her stay in Japan. Sue’s 5Cs are cats, cameras, cinema, climbing, and city pop. Ask her about how her favourite JR Pass (JR TOKYO Wide Pass) saved her life (and wallet).
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Maker's Story: Obuse Chestnut Snacks from Kurian Fumido
Located in the heart of Japan’s main island of Honshu, Nagano (長野県) is a mountainous
