We've previously covered news about Japan's furusato nozei (hometown tax) system. Typically, local governments offer gifts as a token of appreciation, usually featuring local specialties or unique products.
Recently, a particular furusato nozei return gift has been making waves on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan: the "Toilet Monaka" wagashi. This creative confection has left many netizens stunned that a traditional Japanese sweet could take on such a bizarre form, and it's got plenty of people wondering... just how good does this toilet taste?
The talk of the town is this "Toilet Monaka," a furusato nozei gift from Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture. It's touted as a monaka packed with the serious spirit of engineers and artisans, plus a healthy dose of humor. This unique treat is a collaboration between Okura Mochi, a long-established wagashi shop founded in Showa 26 (1951), and LIXIL Enokido Factory, a renowned Japanese housing and lifestyle brand.
The outer shell is modeled after LIXIL's Western-style toilet, "SATIS." A technical team meticulously designed it using CAD, then created a dedicated confectionery mold, paying incredible attention to every detail. As for the filling, it's a classic red bean paste made from carefully selected Hokkaido adzuki beans, ensuring an authentic taste.
As you can see, the monaka shell is a toilet. First, lift the "toilet lid" on top, then place the packaged red bean paste inside. And please, whatever you do, try not to coil it up like... well, you know (lol).
After going viral online, netizens were reminded of a similar "poop-themed" creative idea from Ryotsu in the manga "KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops," which, predictably, got him a good smack from Reiko XD.
Netizens, of course, were absolutely losing it. How could anyone turn a traditional sweet into something with such a "poop concept"? A toilet-shaped shell filled with red bean paste... it just feels wrong, doesn't it? www.
While the creativity is certainly amusing, some netizens admitted that the design makes it... a little hard to swallow.
It just goes to show that Japanese creativity truly knows no bounds! So, if you ever received one of these "Toilet Monaka," would you be brave enough to try it, or would your appetite flush right down the drain? XD
via： 「馬桶最中餅」樂天商場