和 菓 子(わがし)

わがし

noun

Japanese sweets, Japanese confectionery

1. Japanese sweets, Japanese confectionery

Traditional Japanese confections, typically made from plant-based ingredients like rice flour, sweet beans, and sugar.

お茶(ちゃ)と一緒(いっしょ)に和菓子(わがし)をいただく。

Have Japanese sweets together with tea.

季節(きせつ)の和菓子(わがし)は見(み)た目(め)も美(うつく)しい。

Seasonal Japanese sweets are beautiful in appearance too.

和菓子(わがし)は洋菓子(ようがし)より甘(あま)さ控(ひか)えめです。

Japanese sweets are less sweet than Western sweets.

京都(きょうと)の老舗(しにせ)で和菓子(わがし)を買(か)った。

I bought Japanese sweets at a long-established shop in Kyoto.

和菓子(わがし)職人(しょくにん)が季節(きせつ)の花(はな)をかたどった練(ね)り切(き)りを一(ひと)つ一(ひと)つ手作(てづく)りしている姿(すがた)は、まさに芸術(げいじゅつ)だ。

The sight of a wagashi craftsman handmaking nerikiri shaped like seasonal flowers one by one is truly an art.

Traditional confections served with 抹茶(まっちゃ) (matcha) or 煎茶(せんちゃ). Categories:

生菓子(なまがし) (fresh confections) - high moisture, short shelf life
半生菓子(はんなまがし) (semi-dry) - medium moisture
干菓子(ひがし) (dry confections) - low moisture, long-lasting

Common types

大福(だいふく) (mochi with filling)
饅頭(まんじゅう) (steamed bun)
羊羹(ようかん) (sweet bean jelly)
最中(もなか) (wafer with filling)
煎餅(せんべい) (rice crackers)
練(ね)り切(き)り (nerikiri - artistic molded sweets)

和菓子(わがし) often reflect 季節感(きせつかん) (seasonality) in their shapes and colors, representing flowers, leaves, or seasonal motifs.

Contrast: 洋菓子(ようがし) (Western-style sweets).

Related Words

Compare: 洋菓子(ようがし) (Western sweets)

Related: 団子(だんご) (dango (dumpling))

Related: 煎餅(せんべい) (rice cracker)

Related: お菓子(かし) (sweets (general))

Compare: 甘味(かんみ) (sweetness)

Related: 焼(や)き菓子(がし) (baked goods)

Compare: ぜんざい (sweet red bean soup (with mochi))

Related: 甘納豆(あまなっとう) (sweetened beans)

Compare: 砂糖菓子(さとうがし) (sugar confection)

Compare: 生菓子(なまがし) (fresh Japanese confection)

Compare: スイーツ (sweets)

Compare: 練(ね)り切(き)り (nerikiri (shaped wagashi))

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Added 2026.1.14 21:52 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

04500/04962_wagashi