Dorayaki Day

What Is Dorayaki Day?

April 4 is Dorayaki Day in Japan. It was established by Marukyo Seika Co., Ltd., a dorayaki maker whose main factory is in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, and was recognized by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2008. The day carries the wish that everyone will eat dorayaki together and share happiness.

Why April 4?

The date combines the two seasonal festivals for children with a Japanese play on numbers.

• Between two festivals: April 4 falls between the Peach Festival (Hinamatsuri) on March 3 and the Boys' Festival (Tango no Sekku) on May 5, just as the sweet bean paste sits between the two pancakes of a dorayaki.
• A day of happiness: Putting "4" and "4" together can be read as "shi-awase," which sounds like the Japanese word for happiness.
• Origin of the name: The most widely accepted theory is that the name comes from the snack's resemblance to a "dora," or gong. Another theory says the copper pan used to bake the batter looked like a gong.
• The Benkei legend: According to one legend, the warrior monk Benkei baked batter on a heated gong, wrapped it around bean paste, and served it as a thank-you. However, the timing does not match the history of sweet red bean paste, so it is considered only a legend.

Once Square? Dorayaki Then and Now

In the Edo period, dorayaki is said to have been made by folding a single sheet of batter into a square, much like today's kintsuba. The modern style, with bean paste sandwiched between two round pancakes, is said to have started at Usagiya, a Japanese confectionery shop in Ueno, Tokyo. In the Kinki region around Osaka and Kyoto, dorayaki is sometimes called "Mikasa," "Mikasa-yaki," or "Mikasayama," after Mt. Mikasa in Nara, whose shape it resembles.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Share dorayaki with coworkers or family during an afternoon break
• Ask people around you whether they call it "dorayaki" or "Mikasa"
• Try a different variety, such as one with chestnut or whipped cream
• Choose dorayaki as a small gift when greeting new business contacts at the start of the fiscal year

A Sweet Bit of Happiness Between Two Festivals

April 4 sits right between the Peach Festival and the Boys' Festival. Like the bean paste tucked between two pancakes, dorayaki has long been loved by girls, boys, and adults alike. In the busy weeks at the start of the new fiscal year, why not take a short break and enjoy a sweet treat?