Hiyoko Day
Food DaysWhat Is Hiyoko Day?
The 14th and 15th of every month are "Hiyoko Day," established by Hiyoko Honpo Yoshinodo of Fukuoka Prefecture, maker of the famous chick-shaped confection Hiyoko. The date is a pun on "hi (1) yo (4) ko (5)," which stretches across two days. The company's own shops hold thank-you events on these dates.
Spelling "Hiyoko" with 1, 4 and 5
Splitting three digits across two days is an unusual shape for an anniversary. The 14th carries "1 and 4" and the 15th carries "1 and 5," so the two dates share the word between them.
- Established by: Hiyoko Honpo Yoshinodo, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Origin of the date: the wordplay "hi (1) yo (4) ko (5)," giving the 14th and 15th of each month
- Activity: thank-you events at the company's directly operated shops
- Purpose: to spread awareness of the chick-shaped Hiyoko confection
Born in Kyushu, at Home in Tokyo Too
The chick-shaped bun filled with sweet yolk paste was created in Kyushu. It later became widely sold at Tokyo Station and elsewhere, and whether it counts as a Fukuoka souvenir or a Tokyo one is a debate that surfaces now and then -- an unusual pedigree for a sweet.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Think about what to bring as a gift when visiting family or clients at year-end
- Brew tea and give yourself time to enjoy a Japanese sweet slowly
- Recall a famous sweet from your hometown and introduce it to family or colleagues
- Look for other anniversaries built from three digits, as this one is
A Sweet with a Shape Is a Sweet You Remember
Some confections stay in memory simply because of their shape. The 14th and 15th of each month are a reminder that such sweets exist -- and that they travel well as gifts.