Saiundo (彩雲堂), a wagashi shop founded in 1874 and headquartered in Matsue, Shimane, is once again offering its summer limited-edition yokan "Manten" (満天). This year, a special packaging exclusive to Tottori Prefecture has also been added, available at major transportation hubs and retailers throughout the prefecture from June 19, 2026.
What Is "Manten"?
"Manten" — meaning "full sky of stars" — is a summer seasonal yokan that has been a staple of Saiundo's lineup every year since 2005. The confection layers a smooth anko (red bean paste) yokan made with Hokkaido-grown azuki beans beneath a blue-tinted kimpgyoku-kan (crystal jelly), with gold and silver star-shaped pieces scattered on top to evoke the Milky Way.
The kimpgyoku-kan is made with "Sahime no Izumi," a natural water drawn from a depth of 70 meters beneath Mt. Sanbe in Shimane Prefecture. Rich in silica and filtered through geological layers over long years, the water contributes to the jelly's smooth, clean mouthfeel. The result is described as a "night sky you can eat," offering a cool, refreshing experience — best served chilled.
Tottori Prefecture Limited Packaging
Starting in spring 2026, Saiundo expanded its retail footprint into Tottori, with sales beginning at major locations including JR Tottori Station, Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport (鳥取砂丘コナン空港), and Yonago Kitaro Airport (米子鬼太郎空港). Against this backdrop, a Tottori-exclusive packaging was developed to combine the appeal of "Manten" with Tottori's identity as "Hoshitori-ken" (星取県, the Star-Catching Prefecture).
The packaging features a design depicting stars raining down over the Tottori Sand Dunes — complementing the yokan's concept of a night sky captured in confectionery form.
Sales locations for the Tottori-exclusive packaging include:
- AEON Tottori-Kita Store
- AEON Hiezu Store
- JR Tottori Station "Omiyage Rakuichi シャミネ Tottori Store"
- Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport "Tottori Airport Marche Kinsai-ya"
- 丸由百貨店 Tottori (彩雲堂)
- JU Yonago Takashimaya
- JR Yonago Station "Omiyage Rakuichi シャミネ Yonago Store"
- Yonago Kitaro Airport "ANA FESTA"
- Saiundo Yonago Higashiyama Store
The Story Behind "Manten"
"Manten" was born from a moment of inspiration. One night, returning from a business trip, a Saiundo artisan looked up at the sky and was struck by the extraordinary clarity of the stars — a sight impossible to see in the city. Moved by the beauty of the night sky, the artisan resolved to capture it in the form of a wagashi. At the time, blue-colored food was still uncommon, particularly in traditional wagashi. After repeated experimentation, the yokan debuted as a summer limited item in 2005, and has since become one of Saiundo's most beloved seasonal offerings.
Artisan Craftsmanship
Each piece of "Manten" is crafted by hand. The design — originally conceived as a shimmering galaxy — initially tended to look more like clouds than a clear starry sky, due to the natural variation inherent in handmade work. A subsequent collaboration with a railway company prompted Saiundo's sales and production teams to revisit the original vision of "expressing the beauty of the night sky in a wagashi." Over 20 years, the design and flavor have been steadily refined to reach their current form.
One of the most technically demanding aspects is the depiction of clouds drifting across the lapis-blue sky. During the brief window before the crystal jelly fully sets, artisans draw flowing white cloud shapes by hand — a three-dimensional technique that requires deep skill and precise timing.
Product Details
Product name: Summer Limited Yokan "Manten"
Sales period:
- Direct stores: from May 30, 2025 (Saturday) to mid-August (advance sales)
- Online shop: from June 3, 2025 (Tuesday) to mid-August
Prices:
- Full size (1 box): ¥1,728 (tax included)
- Mini size (mini stick): ¥972 (tax included)
Where to buy: Saiundo direct stores, online shop, department store pop-ups, and more
Summer Gift Sets
氷彩 (Hiiro) — Kohakuto Confection
Saiundo's kohakuto "Hiiro" (氷彩) is a bite-sized jewel-like sugar candy that has been drawing attention as an edible gem. Crisp on the outside and jelly-soft within, it comes in five flavors — strawberry, ramune, lemon, grape, and plum — all colored with natural dyes.
Price: ¥994 (tax included) per box
"Ginga" Summer Gift Set
A set combining "Manten" and "Hiiro," called "Ginga" (銀河, meaning Galaxy). Well-suited as a summer gift or mid-year present (ochugen).
Price: ¥2,884 (tax included)
