[chiuchimu]

I'm Japanese living in CA. I can tell you, even with the proper ingredients, it would be hard to make it yourself.

It's like Barbecue. Specialist restaurants do barbecue way better than the average Joe. But, home experts, do barbecue better than most restaurant.

So, chances are yours won't come out that good at first. But if you keep at it and study, you might make some that are better than the average in Japan.

I can't help but think there has to be an Asian market carrying Japanese wagashi or partially made ingredients within 100 miles from your location. It would be so much easier that way.

In my case, I got interested in making Egusi with Fufu, an African dish, but the ingredient aren't sold at the usual market. But by asking around, I found at least 4 African markets within 70 miles from were I am and more over, one small market 4~5 miles from my home. I drove that road at least once a month never knowing a small African market was there for years!

Ask around!