Japanese Food Akita-based confectioner creating insect-inspired sweets

In 2002, Yokote City in Akita began organizing an insect exhibition during the summer vacation for families with children. The centerpiece was a giveaway of Japanese rhinoceros beetles as pets, which young city officials went out to catch. Children stood in a long line in the following year, each hoping to get a rhinoceros beetle. The event became more and more popular. But the rhinoceros beetles became harder to find, so in 2006, city officials asked Komatsu to make sweets as substitutes. Komatsu has a soft spot for insects. He consented readily. His first experiment was to make a chocolate rhinoceros beetle. But its fragile legs would snap every time. Komatsu put a piece of chocolate and dried cuttlefish in his mouth at the same time. Both had been served as snacks with his drink. He found it quite a good combination. So he split the dried cuttlefish into fine slivers and coated them with chocolate. He found that the cuttlefish strengthened the chocolate. It didn't snap.

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thomas said:

Mail order is available.

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mdchachi said:

Tempting. My wife hates bugs so much she even hates butterflies.

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