Goldfish and octopuses that look like glass, tiny real looking pandas, shiba inu dogs, rabbits, dragons, and snakes… all edible. In the art of Amezaiku, artisans craft small candy lollipop sculptures.

During the Heian period, the art of amezaiku was imported from China and was probably first used in Japan for candy offerings made at temples in Kyoto.

The amezaiku craft spread beyond the temple during the Edo period, when many forms of street performance flourished in Japan and when its base ingredient, mizuame, became widely available. In Edo it emerged in its present artistic form.

Amezaiku artists also paint their sculpted candy with edible dyes to give the finished work more character.

Animals and insects are common amezaiku shapes created to appeal to children.

Intricate animal characters are created with expert speed. The realism is amazing!

Some amezaiku artists are also street performers who perform magic tricks and tell stories along with their candy craft entertainment.