Winner of the Nakano Specialty Grand Prix in 2008. Kaki-no-tane (persimmon seeds) as a Nakano souvenir? "Kakimochidokoro Hayashiya"

Hello, I'm Chiitan, a Nakano Tourism Reporter. Chibi Nakano is here with us. Do you ever have trouble finding a gift to bring home? Our recommendation is Kakimochidokoro Hayashiya, a one-minute walk from the west exit of Higashi-Nakano Station on the JR Sobu Line in Tokyo. It's also perfect for a daily snack. (*The prices shown in the photo are those at the time of the interview.)

There are over 90 different products, including seasonal items.

We spoke to the store manager, Hayashi Etsuka. "It's the real Chibi Nakano, so cute!" Is Chibi Nakano embarrassed?

-What is the origin of the store name? "I think it comes from my family name, Hayashi. I'm the third generation owner."

-Please tell us how your shop was established in Higashi-Nakano. "Shall I call your father-in-law?" I was able to speak with the second-generation owner, Yoshiharu. "My father opened the shop in 1941 near where Meiji University Nakano Junior and Senior High School is now. After the war, when we returned from our evacuation in Nagano Prefecture to find the area burned to the ground, we moved to our current location."

--Please tell us about the particularities of your shop. Toshiharu: "The main ingredient is rice. In the past, we did this by hand, using a bamboo steamer to apply steam from below, but handling 30 kilograms of rice was hard work, so we mechanized it, but the taste changed. We searched all over the country for rice that would retain the flavor and umami of the ingredients even when using machinery, and we found rice from Miyagi Prefecture. This is the best way to gelatinize the amino acids, making it delicious."

-What kind of customers do you have? Eka: "Most of them are locals. When the second generation owner was in charge, we had a lot of older customers, but when we started stocking products that young people could enjoy, we started to see an increase in customers of all ages."

-You have a wide variety of products, but what is the most popular? Yuka: "Kaki no Tane. It has been very popular since it won the Nakano Ippin Grand Prix Best Product Award in 2008." I'm sure this Kaki no Tane is different in shape from what you might imagine. It's large and satisfying, and you can choose the flavor, including spicy.

(Kakinotane)

Most of the standard items are long-selling items that have been around since the Showa era, and some customers buy them because they reminisce about the old days. They all have beautiful colors and look delicious.

-What do you recommend, Eka? "Personally, it's the 'Cheese Arare'. It doesn't actually contain any cheese, it just uses butter and salt. Shortly after the war, cheese was a luxury item, so adding cheese to the name apparently helped sales. Even in the Reiwa era, we've continued to sell it under the same name." When you try it, it's crunchy and has a mild flavor from the ingredients! It smells amazing.

Chiitan's recommendation is the deep-fried small balls. Once you start eating them, you can't stop because of their sweet and salty flavor! They are a staple snack in my house and disappear in an instant.

Yuka-san told us about some rare products.

"The 'Unglazed' product is unseasoned and is served as is. It is popular with families with babies and those who are trying to limit their salt intake. It has a mochi-like texture and is delicious when added to soup. It is also recommended to bake it in the oven range and eat it with butter." This looks delicious. Chiitan wanted to give it a try, so he bought one right away.

--What's the secret to making delicious rice crackers? Eka: "We have a factory in the back that's bigger than the shop, and my husband bakes them there every day. Timing, temperature, and humidity are all important factors. In the process of dipping them in soy sauce and drying them on a wire rack, if the humidity is high they don't dry easily, so it can take until around 1 or 2 in the morning." This attention to detail is what creates the delicious aroma.

-What do you want to do with your shop in the future? Yuka says, "For customers who come with their children, I want their children to grow up enjoying our flavors, and I would be happy if they come back to buy our products when they become adults." There is no doubt that the shop will continue to be loved for a long time to come.

"Hey, little Nakano. Are you excited because Eka-san said you're cute?" The most popular rice crackers are the reasonably priced "Small Rice Crackers" and the "Hand-baked Kyokaku Kakimochi." The rice flavor is irresistible.

"Eh? You were surprised because you thought all rice crackers were the same? I understand! The handmade rice crackers at Kakimochidokoro Hayashiya are a little different, Chibi Nakano-san."

(Cheese Arare and Little Nakano)

Kakimochi Restaurant Hayashiya

Address: 3-1-1 Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo

Access: 1 minute walk from the west exit of JR Sobu Line "Higashi-Nakano Station"

Phone: 03-3371-8848

Business hours: 10:00 - 18:00

Closed: Sundays and public holidays