One of my favorite Japanese sweets is “bontan ame.” It is a soft chewy candy from Kagoshima. Each piece is covered with starch paper that you can eat. The name comes from a citrus fruit called “bontan” in Japanese and “pomelo” in English. I had fresh pomelo in Shikoku, and it was very good. Unfortunately, they don’t sell this fruit in Nagoya. I don’t think the candy tastes much like the fresh fruit, but I like a nice fruity flavor. I also like the retro-looking package. This product goes back to 1925, and they haven’t changed the design of the box for at least 50 years. It still has the kanji name written on the side from right to left.   (122 words)

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