In front of Namba Grand Kagetsu, there is a ningyoyaki (doll-shaped cake) shop with cute Yoshimoto characters. The freshly made cakes are even more delicious! So we decided to wait for them to be baked. The staff was very kind. The taste is consistently good! The paper bag is cute, and the sticker seal is a nice touch.

I was excited like at a festival's street fair while exploring the neighborhood for the first time to watch a comedy show. I got distracted here and there and somehow got lost. I received a ningyoyaki (doll-shaped cake) and was eating it. The staff was in a good mood and gave me an extra one for you, laughing. Right in front of Namba Grand Kagetsu, many people were coming for the upcoming performances. The staff was energetically handing out ningyoyaki, pushing through the crowd. I ended up buying one without thinking. After the show, I went to the designated spot with my number tag to get it baked, as instructed. Do you know who "Succi" is? I was grinning as I watched. If I knew, I could at least go pick it up. The show lasted about two hours, with stand-up comedy and comedy skits. I seemed to have learned about Succi and went to collect it. It would be best to eat it while it's still warm, but I wanted to visit other places and buy souvenirs, so I took it home as it is. The ningyoyaki had characters from Yoshimoto on them. The photo was probably of an old man character named Mozo. There were only these kinds of characters inside. Well, isn't it interesting and good?

I received a sample in front of Yoshimoto and it was delicious, so I decided to buy some as a souvenir after watching a Yoshimoto performance. I used a coupon to get a 50 yen discount. Back at home, a 4-year-old child lined up everyone on the table and asked, "Who is this? What is this?" while comparing the bag and stickers they received, having fun. ^^

The previous day ended with just USJ (I wandered around a little for my food log activity), so we decided to do some sightseeing in Osaka. We walked from the hotel to see the Glico sign in Dotonbori. It was around 10 in the morning and all the night shops along the way were closed. Well, that makes sense. There were many shooting game signs, and if we had come here at night, my three kids would have spent a lot of money. It was a close call. There were many fun signs with figures popping out. I only knew about the famous Kanidouraku crab. Takoyaki, sushi, kushikatsu, gyoza, they were all coming out aggressively. Even the Carl Uncle was three-dimensional. It was a fun city just to walk around. It seemed scary at night but interesting. After seeing the Glico sign, the murky river, and enjoying the essence of Osaka, let's head back to the hotel where we parked the car!! On the way back, we got lost. While lost, we found this shop! It's a manju shop in front of the Namba Grand Kagetsu of Yoshimoto Kogyo! They sell manju in the shape of comedians! This place was already open even at 10 in the morning, and it smelled sweet and nice. I couldn't resist and bought the smallest size, a pack of 12 for 550 yen. They even gave me a freshly baked one with a silver scoop, so I tried it while walking. It was still slightly warm, a popular manju! It's a fluffy lump of wheat flour. It's sweet with honey! You'll need a drink! Some of the comedians I recognized, and some I didn't. (I don't watch much TV and I'm not very knowledgeable, so I'm sorry.) I definitely thought, "This is it!" and took a picture! It was fun. Thank you for the meal. After this, we got in the car and caught a glimpse of the cute Osaka Castle from the car window before heading to Nara Prefecture. The second day was a drizzly day.

On the third day of my business trip to Kansai, I strolled around Namba Grand Kagetsu. While enjoying the atmosphere of Osaka, I couldn't resist the temptation of ramen, takoyaki, and pork buns with long queues forming. It's nice to see the lively atmosphere returning. I had no intention of visiting NGK this time, but the friendly staff lured me with a sample of Yoshimoto ningyo-yaki. I didn't plan on buying any, but the entertaining conversation and the steam rising from the sample made me end up purchasing 2 boxes. All in all, it was delicious!

When you come out of Namba Grand Kagetsu in Osaka, a guy approaches you with a light-hearted tone, offering you manju shaped like characters from Yoshimoto Kogyo comedians. It's quite an aggressive sales pitch. You usually just brush it off and keep walking, but when you suddenly look back, you see that the guy has firmly caught your companion and they are currently paying for it! The manju specialty shop right in front of Namba Grand Kagetsu. The flashy sign filled with Yoshimoto Kogyo comedian characters is impossible to miss, so most people who have been to Kagetsu probably know about it. The sales tactics that caught my companion are powerful, and if you try to avoid it by saying "I'm going to watch a show now, maybe later..." they have a counter for that too: "We can hold it for you." Plus, they'll give you a Yoshimoto comedian character sticker as a bonus if you have them hold it for you. I didn't really want a Yoshimoto character sticker, but people are weak when it comes to bonuses (^_^;). The taste is just like regular manju, but eating them while guessing which Yoshimoto character each one is was strangely fun. The expiration date is 4 days including the day of purchase. Overall, as a souvenir from Kagetsu, it's definitely worth it.

Finished shopping at the basement floor of Osaka Takashimaya in May 2020, I decided to treat myself to some fresh juice before heading back home. As I walked through the Sen-nichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street, I passed by the closed Yoshimoto Grand Kagetsu theater, which was unusually quiet due to being closed for the entire month. Across from it, the Yoshimoto Character Dorayaki Castella main store welcomed me with three signboards of Yoshimoto Shin-Kigeki theater directors, but the usual lively atmosphere was missing, with only the echoing voice of a man trying to attract customers. Initially, I walked past the store, but a sign advertising a half-price sale caught my attention, prompting me to turn back. I ended up purchasing a box of Yoshimoto Character Dorayaki Castella for 400 yen, which contained 16 pieces. The castella featured 13 different designs, including comedians from Yoshimoto Kogyo and the Kagetsu lantern. Normally, the individually packaged castella with a 4-day shelf life costs 550 yen for a small pack of 12 or 1000 yen for a large pack of 24. However, due to a significant decrease in sales revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, they were running a "Please Help Us Campaign" with a half-price sale. Back at home, I quickly devoured 6 pieces of the castella, featuring comedians such as Sutocchi, Nakagawa-ke Tsuyoshi and Nakagawa-ke Reiji, Sakai Ai, Tsujimoto Shigeo, Michi Yasue, Tomiizu Masaharu, Katsura Bunshi, Nishikawa Kiyoshi, Sakata Toshio, Ma Kanpei, Yamada Hanako, and Chochin. The castella, made without water using a base of milk and eggs mixed with honey, margarine, and a secret original flour mix, was baked in the shape of characters using original copper molds. The bite-sized castella was softly sweet with a light flavor, remaining delicious even when cooled. The remaining 10 pieces were enjoyed over the next two days, with 5 pieces each day. To prevent them from hardening when opened, I briefly microwaved them for 10 seconds before toasting them in the oven for 1 minute, restoring the castella's delicious aroma and fluffy texture. I hope that the laughter returns to the streets of Sen-nichimae soon, bringing back the lively atmosphere of the past! Bon appétit!

In May 2020, on my way back from Osaka Takashimaya, I passed by Namba Grand Kagetsu, which was still closed until the end of May (sad). However, there was a new shop selling manju castella right in front of it, so I decided to buy a box of 16 pieces to take home (it was on sale for half price at 400 yen per box). There are 13 different types, including Katsura Bunshi, Tomiizu Miyabi, Nishikawa Kiyoshi, Yamada Hanako, Maekanpei, Sakata Toshio, Michi Yasue, Sutchie, Tsujimoto Shigeo, Sakai Ai, Nakagawa-ya Reiji, Nakagawa-ya Go, and Kagetsu lantern. My favorites like Yumi-ane, Asaka Akie, Shima Tama, Medaka, and Shimaki Jyoji were not available. (But the list could go on and on.) I brought them home and warmed them up a bit before eating. In terms of taste, they were delicious with a strong honey flavor and a moist and soft texture. It was really tasty. Bon appétit! I hope NGK reopens soon.

After leaving the new world, the next stop was Namba. A must-visit spot in Osaka. Took a commemorative photo at Ebisu Bridge. Then strolled through the shopping street. "Oh! Shall we go to Grand Kagetsu?" and off we went. Unfortunately, all the shows were canceled due to the timing. Only souvenir shops were open, so we bought some souvenirs and took a commemorative photo in front of Grand Kagetsu! While we were doing that, a man ran up to us. He was promoting Yoshimoto character dorayaki castella. "Please try a sample♪ It's half price now, so if you like it, please buy. There are few customers now and we need help." Well, with that kind of pitch...haha It was delicious and cheap, so why not. Osaka people sure know how to do business. The castella was fluffy and delicious. Thank you for the treat!

I visited the shop selling Yoshimoto character dorayaki cakes near NGK. The shop usually has a lot of people, but today it was quiet due to show cancellations. I bought a pack of 12 dorayaki cakes for half price. I could recognize Ai Sakai, but the others were a bit hard to identify. The cakes all tasted the same, plain without any filling. Eating too many of these can get boring quickly. Yoshimoto Shin-Kigeki is broadcasted on TV in Kansai on Saturdays at 1 PM, and they also stream comedy acts on YouTube. So for those who were planning to attend a live show, there is still hope.

When waiting to enter the familiar Yoshimoto Shinkigeki theater, a vendor selling "Yoshimoto Character Dorayaki" came by saying, "If you reserve now, you can receive it right after the show ends without waiting." I thought it would make a nice souvenir for my daughter who loves Yoshimoto, so I made a reservation and paid the fee. They handed me a yellow numbered ticket, which I could exchange for the dorayaki at the store front. It's convenient to receive it right after the show, but it might be cold by then. If you prefer warm food, it's better to wait for the freshly baked ones at the store.

While in Osaka, I went to see Yoshimoto Shin-Kigeki (a comedy show) as part of my trip! In addition to the comedy show, there were also a few comedy duos performing (like Savanna, Woman Rush Hour, etc.), but the one that made me laugh the most was The Bonten. (*'▽'*) Osamu-chan's energy was amazing. So, to commemorate the experience, I bought these manju cakes. There were ones for takeout and ones to eat right away, but I wanted to eat them right away so I chose the hot ones. I had only ever eaten manju cakes at food stalls before, but these were really delicious!!! They were fluffy and moist inside. The aroma of honey spread in my mouth. They are made without water, using plenty of milk and eggs, which is why they are so moist. They also contain honey. That's why they are so moist. And on top of being delicious, each one has a face on it. Such a delightful surprise for me♡

I received a souvenir gift of Yoshimoto Shin-Kigeki manju castella. When I was a child, I used to watch Yoshimoto Shin-Kigeki on TV a lot. Nowadays, I don't watch it as much, so some people may not even know the name. I ate them one by one, confirming the name and face. It's a delicious manju castella with a light taste and mild sweetness. It's a snack that you can enjoy while eating. Thank you for the meal.

I knew about this place, but I never thought it would be featured on Tabelog. It's a castella from Yoshimoto Kogyo... I mean, why, why, the softness of the baking was great, and the egg wasn't skimped on, so it tasted good. Also, this sweetness... it felt like honey. I bought a pack of 12, took it home, put it on the table, and every time I passed by, I would grab one. And another. This repeated until they were all gone in no time. That's the proof that it was delicious, right? Oh, and when I bought it, I was looking for my favorite "Sakata Toshio".... Found it in the end, "Tosshan" from Osaka. I was so happy to meet "Tosshan"!

After buying Yoshimoto goods and Yokosuka Navy Ramune at Namba Grand Kagetsu, I tried some freshly baked castella which was crispy and delicious, so I stopped by this shop. They have two sizes available, large and small. You can choose between freshly baked or ones that can be stored for 2 days. I bought the small size (12 pieces) for souvenirs since I bought various other souvenirs. I ate them the next day. They weren't as crispy as the freshly baked ones, but they had a subtle sweetness to them. They were still delicious even though they weren't freshly baked. They disappeared in no time. It's also fun to look for your favorite comedians here. I think this is the perfect souvenir to bring back.

On the second day of our trip to Osaka, after enjoying Universal Studios Japan on the first day, we went to see Yoshimoto Shinkigeki. After the show, my daughter wanted to buy castella for my wife. We were a bit confused at first, but when we left NGK, they headed straight to a shop selling Yoshimoto manju castella. It turns out that's what she wanted to buy! The castella were shaped like characters from Yoshimoto Shinkigeki, such as Sutocchi and Tsujimoto. Some characters were unfamiliar to us, but the kids love these kinds of treats at festivals. Since they are Yoshimoto castella, I'm sure they are popular with children.

I went to see "THE Bakurai Yose 2015" with my daughter. After watching the interesting foreign comedy show, we decided to buy a souvenir of ningyoyaki castella on our way home~♪ It's a castella cake shaped like comedians from Yoshimoto Kogyo. Inside, there are dolls of 6th generation Katsura Bunshi, the late Yasushi, Kanpei Ma, Kazuo Kuwahara, Charlie Hamada, Toshio Sakata, Joji Shimaki, and Hanako Yamada. It's an 8-piece set of 5cm dolls for 310 yen☺♡ It's a bit firmer than regular castella. It's a perfect souvenir from Osaka, isn't it? I couldn't help but laugh when I first found them~(❛ ֊ ❛„)

I moved from Kyoto to Osaka (^O^)／ Here, I will be going separate ways with my husband. He was able to get rare tickets for the New Year show at Yoshimoto, so he went straight there. In the past, he used to take me to Hanagata as well, but he always rejected me because I would fall asleep every time, saying "Are you kidding me?" (laughs). For the past few years, when we visit Osaka, my husband goes to Minami! I go to Kita♪ and we go our separate ways. We met up at Shin-Osaka on the way back. My husband, who was all excited, said "It was so fun!" and handed me a souvenir from Hanagata, which was a character-shaped manju. The explanation said, "The secret to its addictive taste is using fresh milk, honey, and eggs without using any water." But it didn't really become addictive at all (^^;) I lined them up when I got home~♪ I'm not trying to brag, but I can't recognize any of their faces at all!! Oh, except for Yamada Hanako-san (^^)

I visited a shop near Takashimaya in Namba, right in front of Namba Grand Kagetsu. The area is filled with takoyaki shops. I was there to buy a souvenir for my son. I bought a box of 12 Yoshimoto character dorayaki for 550 yen, the smallest size. The price seemed reasonable for a souvenir. When I bought it, they asked me if I wanted to eat it right away. I said I would take it home, so they didn't give me freshly baked ones. Instead, they sealed it with a sticker and put it in a bag. The shelf life is about 4 days from the manufacturing date. You can warm it up in a toaster oven. Honestly, I couldn't tell which character was which. They kind of looked like Charlie or Yasushi... The only one I was sure of was Kuwahara Kazuo. The costume and long breasts gave it away. I expected it to be like the dorayaki you get as a souvenir from Tokyo, but it didn't have red bean paste. The dough was more like a baby castella. It was tasty as a baby castella, but the character designs made it less crispy on the outside compared to a simple round shape. Unfortunately, my son, who loves comedy, gave a cool reaction of "Hmm" instead of being excited. I missed the timing! If he was in elementary school, he would have definitely found it funny! I'm disappointed. Next time, I might try buying takoyaki...

This is a ningyo-yaki shop located right in front of Namba Grand Kagetsu. As the sign says, the characters from Yoshimoto are turned into ningyo-yaki. The taste is just like regular ningyo-yaki (laughs). However, because there are various characters, it can be a fun souvenir from Osaka. Especially for those who have visited Kagetsu, they might buy it as a memento (?). But for those who are not familiar with Yoshimoto, giving it as a gift might just elicit a "Huh" reaction. It's more of something to enjoy conversations like "Who is this supposed to be?" or "Is this so-and-so?" So, whether the person is a Yoshimoto fan or not is a key point. Sometimes they give out samples of ningyo-yaki with faces cut off in front of the shop. This is also a nice touch that is unique to Osaka (laughs).