Minako Asai is the owner and creator of MinnieSweets, creating delicious, authentic and seasonal Japanese confectionery (known as “wagashi”) by hand. After a career working in the incredible food hall of one of Japan’s largest department stores, Minako is on a mission to make Melbourne known for wagashi, and runs workshops, demonstrations and events to further educate and promote this overlooked part of Japanese cuisine. 

Following her hit workshops last year, Minako Asai has created a special bath of her hand-made wagashi only available at MPavilion over Opening Weekend. We sat down Minako ahead of the Kiosk Takeover: Wagashi & Tea at MPavilion to hear more about her work.

 

Your wagashi creations are inspired by nature and Japanese art. How do you approach designing each piece, and what do you hope people feel when they experience your work? 

I try to frame what is happening around me now – seasonal changes, colours, celebrations, nostalgia – and distill them into sketches of what I want to express. With plenty of trial and error, they will eventually become the designs of my sweets.

I hope people feel like the wagashi is almost too pretty to eat, but when they do, they can feel the happiness of being in the moment!

 

Melbourne is known for its diverse food culture. What role do you hope wagashi will play in the city’s culinary scene? 

Wagashi is an often overlooked part of Japanese culture but it is so meaningful for it’s beauty, diversity, restraint and balance. We would love Melbourne to be known as the wagashi capital of Australia!

 

What advice would you give to someone trying wagashi for the first time? How can they fully appreciate the experience? 

The flavours and textures might be new, so take your time to enjoy it with beautifully brewed green tea! We’d recommend starting with our Ichigo Daifuku, with a fresh strawberry wrapped in our soft mochi and white sweet bean paste.

From there, we hope you continue to explore many different kinds of wagashi such as nerikiri, often served as part of the Japanese tea ceremony, or Sakura Mochi, a sweet that signals the start of Spring!

 

Which event are you most excited to experience during MPavilion Season 11? 

While I can’t go past the amazing gelato from Piccolina, I would love to take in the sounds in Belonging, and the aromas of Body Nostalgia, as I feel a strong connection with these senses.

 

 

Find out more about the Wagashi & Tea offering over the Opening Weekend here.