Taiyaki is a kind of waffle that has red bean stuffed inside. It has the shape of sea bass, hence the name. (Tai = sea bass)

Dorayaki is a pancake sandwich that has red bean inside. It's Doraemon's favorite snack.

Actually almost all Japanese traditional snack is very sweet because it's based on azuki bean (red bean). I think if you interest in wagashi may be you could read this in Wikipedia

Wagashi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

thanks for the article! :D I can't wait to try cooking/baking and eating them again. Although I don't think that I will manage to create 'good' daifuku or wasashi in general... :P

If you end up finding a place that sells wagashi/mochi/daifuku type things you should try these if you see them - Yatsuhashi. I got hooked on them the first time I tried them in Kyoto, they come in so many good flavors! Though I think I have a preference for the cinnamon ones!

That's exactly my problem. I don't know where to buy some. There are some 'asia shops' but I don't know if they have got wagashi...

No one buys wagashi online. Mosy of it is only good for a couple of days.

Is there a Japanese market anywhere within driving distance for you? That would be your best bet.

Most of Wagashi is like Chinese snack. It can't last long. I think not more than 2 days (if it's not in vacuum packaging) before it become so hard like a rock! because it's base from flour or mochi.

And never try to put it in the fridge and then heat it in microwave oven, because it might become uneatable (may be some wagashi can be heated but I don't think I will heat up Taiyaki or Dorayaki, it will be dried up and very hard)

Unfortunately there is no Japanese market. Just an 'asia-shop' but the salesman is extremely unkind and impolite. Yesterday I bought the ingredients and tried to make daifuku by myself... ^^ They almost taste like those I ate at the festival. But they look different and the consistence is quite strange. Any advice?? :D That would be great.

Wow, you cooked it by yourself!? great.

I never thought about it because in my country (Thailand), it's quite easy to find Japanese stuff here especially in Bangkok. We have Isetan, Tokyu, (Tokai) Max Value/Jusco/Aeon, and tons of Yamazaki. Many Wagashi are made here (that's why it's cheap enough for me to buy it otherwise I can't afford it).

May be you can try this Recipe Index

Thanks a lot for all the recipes! :) I think I will try some of them as well. But I couldn't find a recipe that was similar to that I used for the daifuku. Or maybe I am just blind?? :D