I returned to Osaka on the Nozomi Shinkansen at exactly 11:00 after a 4-day trip to Tokyo. On my way home from Umeda Station, I stopped by the Hankyu Umeda Main Store and picked up "maneki no eki soba" at the Snack Park on the basement floor for dinner. Then, I headed to "Gozako Hankyu Store" in the food market. Despite trying various popular restaurants like "SPICY CURRY Rokka," "Caravan Tokyo" in Shibuya with Mediterranean and Arabian cuisine, and the renowned "Ginza Shinohara," after a long journey, my sweet tooth kicked in. I craved something sweet and ended up at "Gozako," a local shop known for its taiyaki in Himeji. I used to buy taiyaki from their store in Snack Park many times before, but it had moved to the food market on the same basement floor. I got two red bean paste taiyaki and two white bean paste taiyaki for a total of 440 yen. Back home, while they were still warm, I enjoyed one red bean paste and one white bean paste taiyaki each for lunch. I had a hearty breakfast at the hotel, so these two taiyaki served as my lunch. I love red bean paste, but at "Gozako," I prefer the white bean paste taiyaki. Made with a type of kidney bean called "tebomame," the white bean paste taiyaki is filled generously and has a rich sweetness without being overwhelming—it's delicious! Of course, the red bean paste taiyaki is also delicious. Which do you prefer, red bean paste or white bean paste? I froze the remaining taiyaki and enjoyed them later after thawing naturally and lightly warming them in the microwave. Bon appétit!

Hankyu Department Store Umeda. I bought some favorite Gyoza for my mother. They cost 110 yen each. The price of flour has gone up, so it can't be helped. I got home at 9 pm and thought, "It's late, maybe I'll eat it tomorrow." But my mother said, "It's still warm, I brushed my teeth but I'll eat it!" She was so happy and said, "It's delicious!" because it's filled with plenty of red beans. I reheated it in the toaster the next morning. Although it was also available at the newly renovated Snack Park, it ended up returning to a good spot at Hankyu Department Store Umeda. Alongside 551, this is considered a must-have gourmet souvenir from Kansai, right? (Oh, and also Takoyaki...)

Yesterday, my father's liver cancer surgery was scheduled, so I stopped by Hankyu Department Store on my way home from work to bring a gift. It's sad that he has had multiple recurrences and surgeries, but he says he will do his best. Next week, my mother will have surgery, and in March, my father will have surgery again. Over the past few years, he has had so many surgeries that I've lost count, but we want to address it before it gets worse, respecting his wishes. The gift was Himeji's famous confectionery. I also bought two red bean and two white bean ones for our home condo. Last night, we had them as a snack after dinner, and this morning, we warmed them up in the toaster. They are delicious when toasted, with a crispy outer layer. The red bean filling is also tasty. It reminds me of the drum-shaped manju I used to eat as a child at Kadoya in Osaka, but I don't remember there being white bean filling back then. In the cold weather, I remember eating drum-shaped manju, and in the hot weather, I remember having leco, soft cream, and monaka (soft cream-filled). I hope they continue to maintain their unchanged deliciousness.

I purchased red bean paste and white bean paste. I was impressed by the consistent deliciousness.