Namikoshi-ken

Namikoshi-ken (浪越軒) is a Japanese wagashi (traditional confectionery) shop headquartered in Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Its corporate name is Namikoshi Co., Ltd. (なみこし株式会社). The business was founded in 1927 (Showa 2) and has operated for nearly a century as a maker and retailer of Japanese sweets. The shop was historically known for two signature products: oni-manju (鬼まんじゅう), a regional sweet potato steamed bun associated with Nagoya and Aichi, and 'Tezukuri Dobutsuen' (てづくりどうぶつえん, roughly 'Handmade Zoo'), a line of small animal-shaped manju about three centimeters in diameter. The animal sweets gained attention on social media such as Instagram for their cute appearance, and a premium version called 'Premium Dobutsuen' (プレミアムどうぶつえん) was also sold, in which chocolate replaced the traditional bean paste filling. Both products ceased production in September 2019. At its peak the company operated several stores within Aichi Prefecture, including a location at JR Nagoya Takashimaya, and one outside the prefecture at Ecute Ueno in Tokyo. From around 2016 the store network began to shrink. The 'Namikoshi Chaya' (なみこし茶家) outlet in the Chubu Building (中日ビル) closed on August 19, 2018, after which the only permanent store remaining was the main shop in Moriyama-ku. The brand continues to operate its main store and maintains an official website and a social media presence on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @dobutsu_wagashi.

Namikoshi-ken was founded in 1927 (Showa 2) in what is now Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and has operated as a wagashi maker and retailer under the corporate name Namikoshi Co., Ltd. (なみこし株式会社). Over the decades it became a familiar local confectioner in the Nagoya area, associated with regional sweets such as oni-manju, a steamed bun made with sweet potato that is a well-known Aichi specialty. The shop later developed a distinctive novelty line, 'Tezukuri Dobutsuen' (てづくりどうぶつえん), consisting of small animal-shaped manju roughly three centimeters in diameter. Their cute appearance made them popular on social media platforms such as Instagram, and a premium variant, 'Premium Dobutsuen' (プレミアムどうぶつえん), was introduced with chocolate filling instead of the usual bean paste. At its widest reach the company operated several stores in Aichi Prefecture, including a branch at JR Nagoya Takashimaya, and expanded outside the prefecture with a store at Ecute Ueno in Tokyo. From around 2016 (Heisei 28) the store network began to contract. The 'Namikoshi Chaya' (なみこし茶家) outlet located in the Chubu Building (中日ビル) closed on August 19, 2018 (Heisei 30), leaving the main shop in Moriyama-ku as the only permanent store. Both the oni-manju and the animal sweets lines ended production in September 2019 (Heisei 31). The brand continues to maintain its main store, official website, and an X (formerly Twitter) account under the handle @dobutsu_wagashi.

• 2019

  Production of oni-manju and the animal-shaped sweets ends in September.

• 2018

  'Namikoshi Chaya' in the Chubu Building closes on August 19, leaving the main shop as the only permanent store.

• 2016

  Store network begins to shrink from around this time.

• 1927

  Namikoshi-ken founded in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.

Traditional regional wagashi shop with a long history, known for local Nagoya sweets and novelty animal-shaped confections that gained social media popularity.

• Oni-manju (鬼まんじゅう)

  A regional sweet potato steamed bun associated with Nagoya and Aichi; production ended September 2019.

• Tezukuri Dobutsuen (てづくりどうぶつえん)

  Small animal-shaped manju about 3 cm in diameter, popular on social media; production ended September 2019.

• Premium Dobutsuen (プレミアムどうぶつえん)

  A premium version of the animal sweets with chocolate filling instead of bean paste.

1. 1Namikoshi-ken - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2浪越軒 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Official websitenamikoshiken.co.jp