Easter in Japan is called fukkatsusai where fukkatsu means resurrection and sai means celebration. . Easter does not have the same meaning and value as Easter as it is understood in the West and has not entered into Japanese traditions as has happened with Christmas or Halloween, perhaps because the number of Christians in Japan is very small or because it does not have a fixed date or because it overlaps with a much loved holiday in Japan: Hanami. This event is highly anticipated, as it marks the beginning of spring and symbolizes the beauty of nature. People gather in parks, gardens and open spaces to admire the beauty of cherry blossoms in full bloom, and it is common to organize events and activities that strengthen social bonds.
On this occasion, Easter-themed events are organized to entertain residents but above all tourists: fairs, musical or dancing shows, markets or special experiences such as egg hunts decorated with traditional styles such as washi (Japanese paper) or with Kawaii drawings that they recall pop culture, shows with bunnies as protagonists, and buffets with particular foods. Street vendors often offer egg-based foods, such as tamagoyaki (rolled Japanese omelets) and onsen tamago (boiled eggs served in hot broth).
The pastry shops offer characteristic desserts to attract tourists such as the Meika Hiyoko, a perfect Easter dessert in the shape of a chick; According to legend, in 1912 Shigeru Ishizaka, the owner of the Yoshinodo sweet shop in the city of Iizukka (Fukoka Prefecture), recreated a chick that he had dreamed of. The final product was called Hiyoko, which means “chick” and attracted many customers, long queues formed in front of the shop to buy the sweet as a gift. What started as a dream is now one of the most popular desserts in the country.
Another famous dessert famous in Japan is the KitKat which is pronounced Kitto Katsu and means you will definitely win, this dessert therefore has an auspicious value, it is purchased not only by foreign tourists but also by local citizens and above all by students before an exam to be given as a good luck charm. There is a wide choice of flavours, there are more than 400, some more common and easy to find, other details more linked to the seasons, anniversaries or the location in which they are produced (among these, the Moscato-flavoured KitKat of Alexandria caught my attention); there is also the possibility of personalizing the box or each individual package, you can have a photo, the phrase or the words you want printed and you can insert stamps such as butterflies, flowers, stars… You can also choose the type of frame for each photo. On the occasion of the cherry blossoms and the Easter period, limited edition versions are created: with Sakura cherry petals which pays homage to the beauty of the cherry trees in bloom, or with the gianduia flavor packaged in colored and themed decorated boxes.