This 160-Year-Old Kyoto Confectionery House Makes Eevee and Sinistcha Out of Traditional Japan Wagashi

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Summary

  • Kyoto confectionery house Shichijo Kanshundo, founded in 1865, expands its Pokémon jyogashi lineup with two new characters: Eevee rendered in nerikiri and Sinistcha in yomogi manju, joining existing pieces Shaymin Land Forme and Oricorio Baile Style in a four-piece set 
  • Online sales began in May, with in-store availability at the Kyoto Higashiyama flagship launching June 7 and continuing on the 7th of each month
  • The collaboration sits within Pokémon’s broader 30th anniversary year, during which the franchise has pursued an unusually wide range of cultural partnerships spanning food, architecture, fashion, and craft

Shichijo Kanshundo, a Kyoto sweet shop famous for its traditional Japanese confections (wagashi) and located by the Kamo River since 1865, has partnered with Pokémon again. This time, they’ve created adorable treats shaped like Eevee and Sinistcha. Eevee is made from beautifully sculpted nerikiri, while Sinistcha is a flavorful yomogi manju. This collaboration is a particularly thoughtful example of how popular characters can be combined with classic Japanese artistry.

To appreciate the significance of this partnership, it’s helpful to know about Shichijo Kanshundo and the art of jyogashi. Shichijo Kanshundo has been making traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi) near Kyoto’s Sanjusangendo temple since 1865, making it one of the oldest continually operating sweet shops in a city famous for its confectionery. Jyogashi isn’t just any sweet; it represents the highest level of skill for a wagashi artisan. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted using centuries-old techniques to capture seasonal themes, classical poetry, and cultural ideas in edible form. The artistry is judged on how well abstract concepts are transformed into delicate, precise shapes using materials like nerikiri (a smooth bean paste) and manju doughs—like the one flavored with yomogi (Japanese mugwort) used in the Sinistcha piece, giving it its green color.

The fact that Shichijo Kanshundo chose to create intricate, traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi) shaped like Pokémon – instead of something simpler like printed cookies or flavored candies – is significant. They started last October with Shaymin and Oricorio, Pokémon whose designs based on flowers and birds naturally lent themselves to the delicate, nature-inspired style of Kyoto confectionery. Continuing this approach, their 30th-anniversary collection includes Eevee, whose fluffy texture is perfect for detailed sculpting, and Sinistcha, a ghost-type Pokémon designed as a matcha-filled teacup, which thoughtfully connects with Japan’s tea ceremony traditions.

The way these sweets are made strengthens the partnership. Each piece is carefully crafted by hand using water from Kyoto’s Higashiyama district and the finest ingredients – the same meticulous process used for all of Shichijo Kanshundo’s traditional wagashi. The Pokémon sweets aren’t made any differently, or to a lower quality, than their seasonal offerings. They share the same craftsmanship and high standards. This consistency is what sets the Shichijo Kanshundo collaboration apart from other Pokémon-branded food items, of which many have been produced. While things like Pikachu-shaped Goldfish crackers and Pokémon footbaths are fun, these sweets are truly special.

The way this product is sold is designed around what it is. Customers across the country can order online and have it delivered frozen, making it accessible beyond a trip to Kyoto. The main store in Higashiyama only stocks the product on the 7th of each month, starting June 7th. This creates a special, repeating experience around buying it, rather than just a typical shopping trip. There are no pre-orders, and the amount available is limited. This monthly schedule is similar to traditional Japanese sweets called wagashi, which are only available at certain times and places, and the effort needed to get them is considered part of what makes them valuable.

You can now buy the Shichijo Kanshundo Pokémon Jyogashi 4-piece set online at the Shichijo Kanshundo store, and it will be delivered frozen to anywhere in the country. If you’re in Kyoto, you can also purchase it in-store at the flagship location in Higashiyama starting June 7th, and on the 7th of every month as long as they have stock.

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2026-05-15 11:56