It is always great to see ancient art still in practice. In modern time, various ancient art forms are prone to being lost. There are many reasons to it. Many techniques which are forgotten because they are not passed on from generation to generation. And some when one of the generation loses interest in it.
Fortunately, Shinri Tezuka has kept alive the traditional art of " Amezaiku ", a form of artisinal candy making that dates back to the 8th century when the edible objects were offered at temples or given as gifts. The new candy shop in Tokyo called "Ameshin" now offers you to taste a slippery goldfish or a wriggling tadpole.
The lollipops and other confectionery beasts are made by the shop's owner, 26-year old Shinri Tezuka, from a mixture of starch and sugary syrup that results in a translucent, almost glass-like candy.
Gifted with one of my dear friends who recently visited Tokyo, I was fascinated by this ancient art. Understanding the process, making Amezaiku or the sculpting involved many steps. It was interesting to know that a small amount of candy was put on the end of a reed stem, and enlarged and shaped by "blowing in air", similar to glass-blowing.
Shinri Tezukacan magically sculpt objects like birds, dolphins and other characters in less than 3 minutes by using a pair of tiny scissors. Its definitely some of the most difficult material to work with. Consider, he says, "the intense temperature to which sugar syrup must be boiled before being stretched and pulled by hand. There then there's pressure to work quickly before the sugar cools and harden."
The final product makes the above art one of the most pleasurable to watch, and to eat too.
