On June 30, 2024, RESOBOX held a class called Sweets for Every Season: Nerikiri Wagashi Workshop. Wagashi, or Japanese confectionery, has been a staple of Japanese culture for centuries, and Nerikiri in particular, a technique that emerged during the Edo Period in which the treats are sculpted from a sweet dough, is used to craft beautiful reflections of nature.

The theme for this session was hydrangea, and participants beautifully recreated the essence of the flower through their wagashi creations. The class was led by Mari Matsuo, an accomplished instructor who runs Atelier “Temari” in New York City and offers classes on wagashi and decorative sushi.

Ms. Matsuo teaches traditional wagashi-making techniques while using ingredients readily available in New York, ensuring participants can easily replicate the process at home. During this session, real hydrangeas were arranged on the tables, serving as inspiration for participants to capture the flower’s colors and shapes in their sweets. Students engaged in a blend of seasonal artistry and traditional technique, crafting two pieces of two different designs of hydrangea-themed nerikiri, for a total of four pieces they could take home and enjoy.

At RESOBOX, we regularly host a variety of Japanese cultural classes, including wagashi workshops, as part of our mission to share the richness of Japanese traditions in New York. We are committed to continuing our efforts to promote Japanese culture through these engaging programs.