The popular Tokyo souvenir 2005

I've written about popular souvenirs at the JR Tokyo station before. They've released the 2005 version. Here it is.

No1 - Tokyo Banana
Tokyo Banana gets the top spot again. Tokyo banana is a soft sponge cake roll with banana fresh cream. Here is an English post mentioning the sweet. I think in Tokyo rarely eat it because we imagine it  as a typical souvenir item. By the way, I have no idea that such representative Tokyo souvenir sweets had such strange English on their packages. This is the old version. This is the new version.  It  says, "Oh, please don't get my hometown!". Yes I agree.

No2 - Tokyo Tamago (Tokyo Egg)
The inside is sesame paste and sweet bean paste which is surrounded by sponge cake and white chocolate. Hmm sounds yummy. Here is a site talking about the sweets, I have tried it once before. I prefer this to Tokyo banana.

No3 - Hiyoko (baby chick)
A baby chick-shaped sponge cake.  The sponge cake is a little bit hard and is filled with white sweet bean paste.  This was ranked in an older ranking.  Actually, before Tokyo Banana, I think Hoyoko was the most popular souvenir of Tokyo.  People think this is a Tokyo specialty, but originally it comes from Kyushu.  They do look very similar. Here is a comparison.  The one on the left is a Fukuoka Hiyoko, while the one on the right is a Tokyo Hiyoko

No4- - Tokyo Banana Moon Gaufrettes.
This is a thin and light kind of Belgian Waffle sandwich with a banana cream filling..

No5 - JR Train canned cockies.
I have this kind of souvenir, and I can use the package as a small box to keep memories, too.

No6 - Sazae Nigyo Yaki
Cute!!  Baically, Nigyouyaki are tiney sweet buns shaped like a god's face. This is the Sazae-san verion. Sazae san is Japanese national icon which I wrote about "Sazae san syndrome" and "Sazae san is economic index". Since the original author Machiko Hasegawa came from Tokyo and we have her memorial Museum. Sazae san Nigyou yaki is sold as a Tokyo souvenir. Usually, there is "anko" inside. But If you don't like that, they have ones with custard or no filling at all.

No7-:Tokyo Four sights with Kitty
These four sights are Tokyo Station, Tokyo Tower, Rainbow Bridge, Asakusa. Hmm, this cat is really popular. The power is big and boaderless in Japan and the world.  But! I don't like that cat.

No8-:Tokyo Banana pie
It's just a regular crispy pie.  But as long as Tokyo Banana is the number one souvenir, the other products of this company will be ranked higher than other sweets..

No9-:Tokiwado Tokyo Kaminai Okoshi
Kaminari-okoshi is the generic name.  It's a snack popular for its crispy texture.  It was originally sold by street vendors near the
Kaminarimon gate in Asakusa sometime in the mid Edo period.

No10-:Tokyo Kitty Nigyoyaki
It's the Kitty Nigyou Yaki anko version.  Japanese love anko(azuki) very much.

Comments

[Nagasaki]

Keep getting questions regarding whether these sell overseas. The Tokyo Banana is not available elsewhere since it's created to be a tourist souvenir!

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[jaymee]

hi my name is jaymee and our temporary manager is from japan he brought this souvenir the tokyo banana..its a sponge cake with cream filling inside its really good i was wondering if theres anyone that can help me where i can buy then here in U.S Dallas, Texas to be exact.. if anyone knows pls email me thanks...

[Kathy Dubravetz]

I want to order Hiyoko - How do I?

[Sunee]

I am interesting in your tokyo banana pie. I would like to know more information. Can you give me your e-mail address?

[Peter]

I love Tokyo Banana! I buy them eveyrtime I go there. It has just become a tradition over time I suppose.
Peter

[suzanne]

Great page! I love yummy Japanese sweets!!!

[Wayne Kerr]

> Tokyo souvenir sweets has strange English on their package.

lol, talk about strange English. You're a classic.

[Esther]

Those hiyoko remind me a little of the marshmallow peeps in the US. Visit peep HQ at http://justborn.com/products/peeps.html. I'm sure bean paste is MUCH better for you than pure processed sugar and gelatin. Oh, well, Peeps are a part of our whole popular culture scene. Holidays wouldn't be the same without major tooth decay.