I was in Japan earlier this month and bought a box of food containing what appear to be baby chick sponge cakes filled with a cream-colored sweet paste inside. They were wrapped up beautifully inside a yellow rectangular box with baby chicks on the outside. I bought them at Mitsukoshi in Ginza.

Can anyone tell me if they are unique to this time of the year, and if they are for any particular celebration? (I thought they might be for the Christmas festivities, buy mine appear to have an expiration date before that.)

Thanks for any light you can shed on this!

No it's available throughout the year.
Bought some myself when I was there last year.

Do they look like this? It's called "Hiyoko" (= baby chick) and as KMLoke said, it is available throuout the year.

http://www.tbs.co.jp/radio/sp/imgs/photo/20021231.jpg

Yes, that's it!! So they are available all year, as a dessert with a regular meal?

> as a dessert with a regular meal?

I'd say, not really as a dessert course as a part of a meal. The Japanese are not very big with dessert course. Consider these sweets for tea time. Many Japanese (typically elder women ...) drink green tea all the time.

Thanks so much, kappa (and KMLoke) for the great information and photo! We ate ours for dessert, so I guess we 'westernized' the Hiyoko without realizing it!

> We ate ours for dessert ..

SlinkyDog, well done ! Eat it whenever it pleases you to. I lived in Tokyo for about 10 years but never tasted this particular sweet product "Hiyoko" which is supposed to be a speciality by a Tokyo based confectioner. I hope you enjoyed it.

I got mine from a shop in Ameyayokocho at Ueno. The shop usually sells confectionery/sweets at up to a few hundred Yen cheap than other places. Went there to stock up on Meiji chocolates etc to bring home. Love to look at the salmoe roe, tuna, crabs etc on display at the road side stalls.

MKLoke,
Ymu, Meiji Chocolate! I just discovered them two weeks ago and have just now finished the last one off! I found Japan to be very "juxtoposition" for me as far as sweets go. Some things looked like they would be very sweet and yummy by the package and shape but they tasted very different than what I though they would be (seaweed, etc.) That is what makes travel fun isn't it? Experiencing new things...

Kappa, I enjoyed them very much!

KMLoke, thanks for the tip on Meiji chocolates. I will have to try some next time I am there!

SlinkyDog,

Meiji makes a wide variety of confectionery including chocolates, snack foods, and biscuits as well as beverage products.

Thanks, KMLoke. I have much more to explore when I go back to Japan!

Ooh-wish I was in Mitsukoshi's right now sampling those confections. As long as we are on the subject, how about those Yoku Moku cookies? I had them on my very first trip to Tokyo many years ago (1979). I must have made quite a scene raving about them because to this day, my Tokyo friends will always bring me a box knowing how happy it makes me.

My family and I absolutely love the Yoku Mukus! Spent a small fortune on them.
They are also sold at Narita tax free. The selection is small though.

I received a gift of Yoku Moku this Christmas. The can had a Christmas picture of Santa and the Ark. Is this something new, or have they had special Christmas cans as an annual tradition?