Takemura
Japanese sweets café “Takemura” in Kanda-Sudacho was established in 1930, 5th year of Showa. The area has historical architectures with charm such as “Kanda Matsuya,” “Kanda Yabusoba” and a Chicken Sukiyaki restaurant “Botan.” And “Takemura” still looks as it used to.
The 3rd owner of the café, Masaaki Hotta says, “At that time, there was no genuine shiruko café. My father had a sweet tooth, so he started this café for sweets lovers to eat sweets whenever they wanted.” The café was in business during the war and kept their traditional taste even though sugar was rationed. The café always has purchased materials from the same wholesaler and handmade with the same recipe.
The popular specialties of “Takemura” are “Awazenzai (not available in summer)” and “Agemanju” both with full of house made anko. “Awazenzai” is a representative of winter sweets with full of hot anko on the nicely cooked awa-mochi. It will warm your body up.
“Agemanju” is a handmade manju that has been covered in batter and fried in sesame oil. The contrast between crunchy coating and soft manju makes it delicious. It has light taste anko inside. Takeout is available, but please try freshly fried manju at the café.
Recently, the café appeared as “Homura,” the heroine’s home in the animation, “Love Live!” So, it has become a sanctuary for the fans. Many fans, young men and anime fans from overseas, make a long line to have Agemanju the heroine had.
Having old-fashioned Zenzai and Agemanju at the charming house with a half-hipped roof, you can experience nostalgic Showa feeling and taste at “Takemura.”
Jan 2019 Text: Ryoko Kuraishi Photo: Yasuo Yamaguchi