It’s worth noting that the Japanese word for sweet, amai, suggests naïveté when applied to a person, whereas shibui, bitter, confers old-school cool. The last character in the fruit’s name is now part of the word wagashi. But of all the qualities that define wagashi, the most poignant might be ephemerality. The highest form of wagashi is jounamagashi: elaborate sweets doomed by their moisture content to the briefest of lives. And to purchase the Japanese sweets featured in the photo shoot, visit Minamoto Kitchoan, Yume Confections and mochi Rin.

Source: New York Times August 14, 2017 06:33 UTC