A day for taiyaki

Today, and January 15th annually, is Taiyaki day. The full name is official Kuriko-an Taiyaki no hi くりこ庵・たい焼きの日, as the company Kuriko-an were the people who registered the anniversary and they made sure to do so with their name attached. Which is clever marketing in fairness. You willnot be suprised to hear that Kuriko-an are a taiyaki chain! 

In all truth, one rarely needs an excuse for taiyaki! Its a delicious treat. Taiyaki (鯛焼き) is a pancake cum waffle style fish‑shaped cake that is usually served warm. It has been part of street‑food culture in Japan for decades. Its iconic form imitates tai fish (red sea bream), which is associated with celebration and good fortune in Japan. The traditional filling is azuki bean paste, but custard flavor is really common too. In fact, in recent years you can get a multitude of fillings. 

They are often sold from a street stall or kiosk in historic towns that allow "tabe-aruki" (walking while eating), which is otherwise frowned upon in Japan. For example, in Kawagoe you can find several places that sell taiyaki, some in the quaint form of vending from a counter or even a window! You can often see the taiyaki being made as they pour the batter into a red sea bream shaped mold. Its a particularly nice street food for warming up a cold winters day!