These Japanese fish-shaped candy are a celebration of three of Japan's famous weaknesses: fish, candy and cute things. The candy business in Japan has always been doing swimmingly well, thanks to hordes of candy makers constantly looking for new kinds of sugary delights.
These fishy delights -- photographed and shared by Miki Nagata on his Flickr account -- are made of the gelatin variety agar-agar, a white sweet bean paste called anko, black sesame seeds and green tea powder for color.
Judging from the photographs, the fish appear to be carp. Goldfish-shaped candy delights are also common in Japan, where goldfish are commonly associated with summer. For that reason, goldfish-shaped candy sales tend to get scaled back in the cold season.
Fishy Japanese Candy
These Fish-Shaped Candy Are Gelatinous, Sugary and Awesome
Trend Themes
1. Japanese Fish-shaped Candy - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create new flavors and shapes of fish-shaped candy to cater to different consumer preferences and expand market reach.
2. Gelatin Variety Agar-agar - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore alternative uses of agar-agar as an ingredient in various food products, such as desserts, snacks, and beverages.
3. Goldfish-shaped Candy - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative packaging designs and marketing strategies to boost sales of goldfish-shaped candy beyond the summer season.
Industry Implications
1. Candy Manufacturing - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate unique and culturally significant shapes and flavors into traditional candy offerings to attract a broader consumer base.
2. Food and Beverage - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introduce agar-agar as a versatile ingredient in the food and beverage industry, offering healthier and plant-based options for consumers.
3. Confectionery Retail - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create experiential retail concepts where customers can personalize their own fish-shaped candy by choosing flavors, colors, and additional toppings.