North Wind
On a regular Monday evening, I had to visit the AEON Sapporo Nishioka Shopping Center for a sudden errand related to my Canon EOS 70D camera. The camera had been having issues, so I had arranged for it to be repaired through the electronics store here. Today, I received the news that the repair was complete, so I eagerly went to pick up my beloved camera. Excited, I almost hugged it as I finally reunited with it after over two weeks. As I was about to head home, my companion suggested getting something sweet to eat. We decided to stop by "Tsuboya Tea's Kitchen," a shop we had recently reviewed. The shop was less crowded than usual, so we felt more at ease browsing the displayed items. That's when I noticed the "Zakki Rin" sweets. Apparently, they were created in 1959 to commemorate the Emperor's visit and tree planting. The packaging had been redesigned to feature birds and trees as symbols of nature, and the sweets had been made even softer and more delicious. Without much thought, I picked up the "Strawberry Cream" (140 yen tax included) and my companion chose the "Raisin Cream" (140 yen tax included). Back at home, we couldn't wait to try the "Zakki Rin" sweets. Opening the package revealed buttery cookies with a strawberry jam and buttercream filling. They were light, crispy, and had a perfect balance of flavors. My companion found the raisin version enjoyable, although she felt the cream was a bit too rich for her taste. For a snack priced at around 100 yen, these sweets were surprisingly delicious. The packaging featured illustrations of a "Shijukara" bird for my strawberry flavor and a "Tsugumi" bird for the raisin flavor, both resting on branches of the "Nanakamado" tree, a symbol of Asahikawa residents. It was clear that "Tsuboya" had put effort into offering this special treat. Later, I found out that the raisin flavor my companion had was a seasonal product, with other flavors like "Sakura," "Summer Mandarin," and "Cheese" also available. I would love to try the "Sakura" and "Summer Mandarin" flavors. Today, I unexpectedly found a delightful snack and felt truly happy. Oh, and my EOS 70D was successfully repaired and working perfectly, bringing me even more relief.