On Wednesday, December 20, the Houston Chronicle highlighted local Houston wagashi maker, Oyatsu Aoi. Born, raised, and trained in Kyoto, Japan, owner Aoi Tsuchida has been sharing her love for these Japanese treats with the Houston community since 2022.
Wagashi refers to traditional Japanese sweets made with rice powder, red bean paste and seasonal fruits. They are oil and milk-free, so can also be vegan-friendly.
Tsuchida, 36, started making her own wagashi in the 2010s while working at a Japanese sweet shop, and then started her own business in 2019, called Oyatsu Aoi. Oyatsu means "snacks" or "casual sweets," Tsuchida said, and Aoi is after her own name.
“I believe that wagashi has the possibility to be loved by people in the world.”
-Aoi Tsuchida
Tsuchida came to Houston in 2022 with her husband, and here she began to sell her wagashi through online orders and pop-ups. She continues to hold pop-ups in the Houston area, and information about them and how to order can be found on her Instagram feed. Tsuchida loves doing pop-ups because people's positive feedback and sharing her wagashi with them gives her energy and a "happy feeling." She also appreciates the diversity in Houston and finds it to be a comfortable city with friendly people.
Click the buttons below to read the full article written by Fatima Farha and Yi-Chin Lee, and to view the story on the Houston Chronicle’s YouTube channel: