Large bowl with fruit in overglaze enamels

Edo period, 17th century
Kyushu National Museum

Decorated in overglaze enamels, this large bowl features peaches, pomegranates, and a fingered citron known as “Buddha’s hand.” Fruits such as these offer sweetness anytime.

Bracelet with bells

Bronze Age to Iron Age, 3rd century BCE–2nd century CE
Kyushu National Museum

This bracelet is from Ban Chiang, a culture that flourished in northeastern Thailand about 2,000 years ago. Doesn’t its shape remind you of a certain donut??

Three-tiered cut-glass box (confectionery container)

Edo period, 19th century
Kyushu National Museum

This cut-glass box was handed down through the Shimazu family, feudal lords of Satsuma. Ink inscriptions on the box reveal that it was used as a confectionery container.

Tenjin visits Tang China

By Sengai Gibon
Edo period, 19th century
Genjūan Temple, Fukuoka

Here is an ink-wash painting of Tenjin, the deified form of Sugawara no Michizane, dressed in Chinese attire and holding a plum branch. The inscription reads:
“Told to receive it,
A plum branch adorns my sleeve
Like a round rice cake.”
This is the origin story of umegae mochi, a special Dazaifu sweet.

Omanjū Dokoro sign

Meiji to Showa era, 20th century
Jōtenji Temple, Fukuoka

The monk Enni (1202–80) founded Jōtenji Temple in Fukuoka. He is said to have taught a Hakata teahouse proprietor how to make manjū, the red-bean-filled cake he had eaten in Song-dynasty China. Enni also wrote the shop sign for him. This is a replica of that sign; the original is held by Toraya, a confectioner famous for its yōkan (sweet red bean jelly).

Among the exhibits you can see at Ajippa are implements and containers related to sweets. What ingredients do you think were used to create these delicious treats? Be sure to look at their adorable shapes too!