An exhibition of Kyoto confectionery titled "Kyo-gashi Iroiro-ten," began on September 14 at KYOTO CONFECTIONERY MUSEUM, in Kamidachiuri-agaru, Karasuma-dori, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto. Approximately 80 items, including a Japanese wooden mold for "Hi-gashi," or dry confectionery, such as "Rakugan," or hard dry sweets made of soy flour and sugar, are included in the exhibition. Also on display are Chinese and Korean confectionery wooden molds, sweets imported from foreign countries between the 16th and the early 17th century, confectionery shop signs, and "Togei-gashi," or ornamental confectionery consisting mainly of raw sugar that is crafted to look identical to actual objects. Students on school trips who had their first opportunity to see the exquisite work were impressed by such items as ornamental confectionery in shape of a peony.

Other exhibits include photo panels showing how to make Rakugan and the Edo Period manual, "Kokin Meibutsu Gozen Kashi Hidensho," issued in 1718, explaining how to make and color "konpeito," or a type of small candy made by crystallizing sugar around a poppy-seed core. Also displayed are "ukiyoe," or Edo period woodblock prints, confectionery wooden molds for "Iwai-gashi," or festive confectionery in the shapes of a sea bream and Mt. Fuji, and Togei-gashi, confectionery made by coagulating sugar to make the sweets look like objects such as peonies, pines and roses. Dry confectionery hi-gashi wooden molds in shapes including a flower-patterned rice cake, fish and writing characters from Korea, and a Chinese character and a many-storied building that are both used when making mooncakes in China, are showcased as well.

The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until November 14 except Wednesdays when the museum is closed. There is no admission fee.