Ningyō-yaki is a traditional Japanese cake made by Shigemori Eishindō in Ningyōchō, Tokyo. It is recognizable by its molded faces of the gods of good fortune and a thin layer of cake surrounding a generous azuki bean filling.

The filling is koshian, a smooth, sweet paste made from azuki beans grown in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido. It is prepared daily by carefully cooking the beans. The balance between cake and filling distinguishes Shigemori’s version: the outer layer is exceptionally thin, so the bean paste makes up most of each cake.

Each bite is dominated by the smooth texture and sweet flavor of azuki paste, enclosed in a thin baked shell. These small cakes pair well with unsweetened sencha tea.