Saiundo's wagashi confectioners Ikuo Karino and Ryuichi Mitsuda

Karino Ikuo

Recognized as a first-grade confectionery technician in 1989, became a licensed vocational training instructor in 1996, was later acknowledged as an excellent wagashi confectioner in 2009, and became Master of Craftsmen in 2015. Following his role as Deputy Director of Production at Saiundo, he became the exclusive instructor at Karakoro Art Studio’s confectionery school. He is popular among participants for his humorous style of instruction. Utilizing the experiences of his 40-year long career as a wagashi confectioner, he is also an instructor at Shimane Prefecture Technical School of Confectionery.

Mitsuda Ryuichi

Recognized as a first-grade confectionery technician in 1996, became a licensed vocational training instructor in 2002, was later acknowledged as an excellent wagashi confectioner in 2007, and became Master of Craftsmen in 2015. He was selected as an excellent wagashi confectioner in the first year of the award’s establishment. His skill of using elaborate techniques for his crafted confectionery has earned him a good reputation. He focuses on making wagashi of an assured quality based on careful calculations. Also involved in the craft of bread-making, he has started selling “Anpan from the Wagashi shop”, and makes bread for Shinmon Street’s Ael near Izumo Taisha. In this way, he hopes to generate interest about the culture of wagashi among tourists.

• 
•