Last update September 9, 2025

Japanese Food - Okoshi -

Okoshi

おこし

Cereal Granola Bar

Okoshi is one of the nostalgic sweets that old-timers may fondly remember from the good old days. At least, for me, since it was the sweets Uncle Seiichiro always got us as an Omiyage (souvenir). He left our rural hometown for Osaka with an aspiring mind and made a career as a policeman, which inspired me, as a child, to move to Osaka after graduating from high school. Even though I was not a big fan of this Okashi (sweets), it brings me back fond memories of him. Okoshi is made of glutinous rice and millet grains, which are steamed, dried and roasted, then hardened into slabs using Mizu Ame and sugar. Sesami, peanuts or soybeans are sometimes added as ingredients. Various products are available depending on the region; Kaminari (thunder) Okoshi, Asakusa, Tokyo, and Iwa (rock) Okoshi, Osaka, are especially famous.

Iwa Okoshi in Osaka.