I went to a ramen restaurant called "Dun Dun Dun" in Moji, but it was closed even though it was supposed to be open during business hours. It seemed like they changed to only serving lunch, and I noticed that both Google and Tabelog had edited the store information to say "until 18:00" recently. I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant, so it was quite disappointing. I ended up going to KFC and Mister Donut instead, but while I was looking for another place to visit, I discovered a shop that looked promising. I bought a local specialty called "Fugu Senbei," which I had never heard of before. It seems to be a specialty of Moji, which is part of Kitakyushu City, but since I used to live in old Kokura City, I had never heard of it. The ingredients were simple with no unnecessary additives, and when I tried it, I was impressed by the well-made taste. Even though I have eaten a lot of Senbei in Kyoto, the headquarters of Japanese sweets, I can see why this could be considered a local specialty of Kitakyushu. I would like to buy it again, but I feel lazy to go all the way to Moji. However, I found out that there is a store selling it in Uomachi as well, next to "Katsuo Sushi no Tora." I didn't even notice that before. I should visit there next time. The only concern is that Senbei is quite common, so I wonder if it would be suitable to bring it as a souvenir to other prefectures, even though it is labeled as a local specialty of Kitakyushu. While Moji is famous for fugu, the image of Shimonoseki across the sea is stronger nationwide, and Osaka is the true home for eating Senbei.

"The name 'Fugu Manju' is designed to resemble a blowfish, as the manju itself is shaped like a blowfish. It has won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award, and it seems that the focus on ingredients is the key to its deliciousness. The manju is made with large red beans cultivated in the Tokachi Plain in Hokkaido with reduced pesticides and fertilizers. The crispy and crunchy texture, along with the fragrant flavor of the manju skin, is made using high-quality rice from Saga Prefecture. It was a gift from relatives, and it has a good sense of taste. It is delicious. The blowfish, good fortune, happiness, and luck are all associated with it, making it a great gift option. Thank you for the meal!"

Financier (plain) 151 yen [Energy 167kcal Carbohydrates 14.7g] Financier (walnut) 151 yen [Energy 175kcal Carbohydrates 13.9g] Following the conquest of Kokuraminami Ward, Yahatahigashi Ward, and Tobata Ward, now Moji Ward is under control. I think Wakamatsu Ward will be fine, but Yahatanishi Ward seems to be dragging on. Well, Kokurakita Ward has a leader, so it should be resolved eventually. As for the Northern Territories, maybe Moji Ward will also be a short-lived victory. Financiers are moist and quite delicious. I especially recommend the walnut one.

When you open the packaging paper, a fragrant scent of the manju fills the air, and with each bite, the gentle sweetness of the red bean paste spreads in your mouth. The natural sweetness of the beans lingers in the aftertaste and disappears smoothly. They don't rely on sugar for sweetness but rather showcase the sweetness of the red beans. I savored each bite and enjoyed the lingering aftertaste. As a fan of red bean paste, this manju is the most delicious for me. It won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Award at the first Japanese confectionery craft exhibition, and the signboard is not deceiving. 5 pieces for 732 yen. I had a blissful tea time enjoying these treats.

Yanagi-machi, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu City. A shop located right in front of Moji Station. Established in Moji in 1947. Currently, in addition to this Moji Station main store, there are also Kokura Uomachi store and Moji Port store. The website includes an online shop where you can also make purchases. When it comes to Umeyuen, they are known for their "Fugu Senbei" (blowfish crackers). Uni (sea urchin) and spicy cod roe are also popular items. They also sell processed goods and sweets. This time, I purchased two Fugu Senbei (140 yen each). Fugu Senbei: A blowfish-shaped senbei made with red beans from the Tokachi Plain in Hokkaido and chickpeas from Saga. The sweet bean paste is not too sweet, but the deliciousness of the red beans comes through. The senbei is crispy and delicious. Winner of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the First Wagashi Craft Exhibition. It's great for souvenirs or for personal enjoyment. The spicy cod roe looked really delicious, so I might visit next time for that. Thank you for the meal.

After buying pressed sushi for home at Moji Station Fressta, I look for souvenirs for my workplace. I spot a shop with the sign "河豚最中" (Fugu Manju) - "Umezono" shop. While Umezono is a famous traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Dazaifu, this shop is called Umezono (Umezono). As I walk in, the "河豚最中" catches my eye. It is labeled as a "specialty of Kitakyushu," winner of the "1st Japanese Confectionery Craft Exhibition Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Award," and certified as a Kitakyushu City "Food" brand. I buy one for my workplace souvenir and a loose one for myself. While waiting for the packaging, they even serve me tea. Thank you very much. (*^^*) The feedback at work for the souvenir is great, which is a relief. I will take the loose one home for myself. Of course, I will enjoy it with genmaicha tea. I prepare the tea and savor the Fugu-shaped manju. Just to clarify, there is no actual fugu meat or extract in it. (laughs) The crispy manju skin instantly absorbs the moisture in my mouth. The red bean paste inside has a firm and sticky texture. As I chew, the red bean grains break down, spreading a refined sweetness. The aftertaste is not too heavy, a perfect finish for a classic manju. Indeed, it pairs well with tea. It was delicious. Bon appétit.

The retro district is nice, but this is a classic souvenir from Moji. It's a pack of 5 "fugukko" for 432 yen, which are manju shaped like blowfish. They are not too sweet and very tasty. However, I'm worried that the energy of the shopping street seems to be diminishing every time I visit. I will be back soon!

I bought a cute manju in the shape of the famous local delicacy "fugu" at the Kanmon Station. The "fugukko" (5 pieces: 432 yen) is slightly smaller in size compared to the pufferfish manju, making it easy to eat. The filling inside is very rich and sticky, satisfying enough with just one piece. By the way, the pufferfish manju is 5 pieces for 648 yen. It's a great choice for a souvenir. Kanmon Station Main Store, North Kyushu City, Moji-ku, Yanagimachi 2-2-30, 093-381-0881, open daily from 9:00 to 20:00.

I received a gift of blowfish manju (fugu mochi) from Moji, a major blowfish market across the Kanmon Straits in Shimonoseki. In Kitakyushu, they refer to blowfish as "fugu." A colleague who was leaving the company left this blowfish manju for everyone to enjoy as a farewell gift, and I had the opportunity to try it. Although I have worked in the Moji area before, this was my first time trying blowfish manju. The filling is sweet. In the past, a sweet taste was considered a symbol of "abundance" and "wealth." Gifts are often sweet treats. Moji was a thriving port town, and perhaps people back then enjoyed such sweet confections. The blowfish manju mentioned in the guidebook is described as follows: "Blowfish manju is a specialty of the Kanmon area, representing the shape of blowfish in manju form. The filling is made with carefully cultivated azuki beans from the Ishikari Plain in Hokkaido, cooked using traditional pot and direct fire methods. The manju dough is made with fragrant Hiyoku rice from Saga, and each piece is generously filled by hand. The combination of filling and dough creates a delicious manju." Thank you for the meal.

If you ever go to Moji, I highly recommend buying the Fugu-shaped Senbei. It's adorable because of its shape. When you tell people it's a Fugu Senbei, they'll be surprised, but not only that, the taste is also excellent, making it a perfect souvenir. The red bean paste is very rich, bringing out the flavor and texture of the Azuki beans. They use high-quality Azuki beans from Hokkaido, with no additives of course. The seeds are made from fragrant rice from Saga Prefecture. It felt like a Senbei as rich as the ones from Tsuboya-So-Honten. It's a deep and soothing taste when enjoyed with tea.

I was intrigued by the catchphrase "Specialty of Kitakyushu" at a shop near Moji Station, so I decided to visit. They were selling a fugu (blowfish) manju that won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the First Japanese Confectionery Craft Exhibition. I was looking for a souvenir for someone far away, so I bought a pack of 3 for 356 yen and tried them out first. The small fugu manju is filled with shiny black bean paste. It has a moderate sweetness and you can really feel the texture of the azuki beans. It might not be recommended for those who prefer smooth bean paste. The leaflet mentions that the bean paste is made from excellent Azuki beans grown by a contract farmer in the Ishikari Plain in Hokkaido using reduced agricultural compost, and the manju is filled with fragrant roasted Hiyoku rice from Saga Prefecture, all packed by hand with no additives. I'm planning to meet someone from afar soon, so I think I'll go with this as a souvenir from Kitakyushu!

I received a souvenir of blowfish manju from a friend in Moji this time. These cute bite-sized manju go well with green tea. In Moji, when you go on a little trip, the go-to souvenir is the blowfish manju from Umeen, which has a rich red bean paste filling and a deep black color, very delicious. Thank you for the souvenir. I received blowfish manju from a customer in Kitakyushu, Moji. It seems to be a common gift for end-of-year greetings, and it's always this blowfish manju. Although Shimonoseki is famous for blowfish, since the sea connects us, blowfish is also popular in Moji, and it's said to be cheaper than Shimonoseki. The cute little blowfish manju are easy to eat in one bite, and the red bean paste is made from high-quality Daizu beans from the Ishikari Plain in Hokkaido. Each manju is hand-packed without any additives, with a gentle taste and a subtle sweet aroma of red bean paste. It's a delicious manju.

It is well-known for its sea urchin dishes, but this time I would like to introduce the canned version ^_^ Among them, the sea urchin roe is exquisite. The rich yolk, packed like butter, is even thicker than sunflower seeds, dazzling the eyes.. It was a delightful appetizer. Thank you very much.

Last year, I received "fukumonaka" from a friend and was impressed by its deliciousness. I wanted to eat it again, so when I happened to be in Yamaguchi, I stopped by. However, when I tried it today, it was completely different from last year's, lacking the richness in the red bean paste and tasting almost like any other regular one. I was really looking forward to it, so I was disappointed by the drop in taste. I had given it as a gift to friends and relatives, praising how delicious it was, so now I feel embarrassed. I contacted the store later and received the following response. Thank you for your valuable feedback. Our blowfish monaka is made using skin made from rice from Saga Prefecture and red bean paste sourced from a contracted farm in Hokkaido, using only red beans, white sugar, and malt syrup, following the same traditional method since our establishment. We believe we have been providing the same taste consistently, but around spring each year, the red beans used become new red beans, which may give a smoother texture. We apologize for causing discomfort to customers who came from afar. All employees are committed to further improvement. Thank you for your continued support. Umeen Free Dial 0120-380-881. Thank you for the detailed response. So the taste can change depending on the season of the red beans? I apologize for the misunderstanding.

During the gift-giving season of Ochugen and Oseibo, one often wonders what to choose as a gift. One popular choice is the "Fugu Senbei," a sweet treat that is often sent to people who are far away. It is a gift that reminds recipients of Kyushu, especially those with a sweet tooth or connections to Kitakyushu and Shimonoseki. In addition to the main store in Moji, there is also a branch in the Uomachi Gintengai area in Kokura, allowing for easy ordering and delivery. Moji is known for its sweet soy sauce that connoisseurs appreciate, but that's a story for another time. The Fugu Senbei is filled with a generous amount of rich red bean paste, reminiscent of the traditional senbei from the past. The shape of the senbei resembles a pufferfish, but upon first glance, it may not look like a pufferfish at all, perhaps more like a flying dove or flying fish? The individually wrapped senbei has a crispy texture and is also delicious. With a pack of 10 for 1,150 yen, it is affordable and perfect for gift-giving.

I tried the famous blowfish-shaped manju (filled bun) called Fugu Monaka at Umezono, a shop located across the strait in Hae Tomari fishing port known for blowfish in Moji. The sweet red bean paste filling is made from locally grown Azuki beans using traditional methods. The outer shell is made from rice from Saga Prefecture. The attention to detail in the ingredients is impressive.