The First Sunrise of the Year, in a Single Sweet

This New Year’s sweet is inspired by a well-known Japanese saying:

Ichi-Fuji, Ni-Taka, San-Nasu —

First, Mount Fuji. Second, a hawk. Third, an eggplant.

These three are believed to bring good fortune when they appear in the first dream of the year.

Mount Fuji symbolizes strength and dignity, rising quietly above all.

The hawk represents sharp vision and ambition.

And the eggplant, with its many seeds, is a symbol of prosperity and growth.

This confection takes the form of Mount Fuji, simple and serene, standing calmly on the plate.

A small piece of gold leaf in the upper corner represents the sun —

the first sunrise of the New Year, gently shining over the mountain.

Placed beside a bowl of matcha, it felt less like a sweet

and more like a small, peaceful landscape.

It felt almost too beautiful to eat,

but in the end, I enjoyed it fully.

Of course, the Matcha was delicious as well.