Kūya Monaka is a traditional Japanese sweet in the wagashi category, produced by Kūya in Ginza, Tokyo. Monaka was the shop’s main product when it was founded in 1884, while its distinctive toasted shell was introduced later, inspired by a monaka that kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjūrō IX offered the founder after briefly warming it over charcoal embers.

It consists of two thin, toasted wafer shells filled with sweet azuki bean paste. The filling is made with azuki beans grown with reduced pesticide use in Tokachi, Hokkaido, and carefully selected sugar.

Its distinctive character comes from the combination of the shell’s toasted aroma and the sweet flavor of the azuki filling. It can be served with unsweetened Japanese tea.