Funabashiya’s “Tipsy” Mizuyokan: A Western Twist on A Traditional Japanese Dessert

Nestled within the rows of shops on the first floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, a newly opened multi-purpose skyscraper overlooking Shibuya Station, you'll find Funabashiya Koyomi 船橋屋こよみ. Funabashiya is a venerable establishment with 214 years of history in Tokyo. They are most famous for a jelly-like dessert called kuzumochi 葛餅, a Tokyo specialty, made with fermented wheat starch, as well as other traditional sweets. Their sister brand Funabashiya Koyomi aims to provide sophisticated offerings blending Japanese and Western tastes.

Alcohol-infused Mizuyōkan

In its latest store in Shibuya Scramble Square, Funabayashi Koyomi is selling a line of mizuyōkan 水羊羹, a soft jelly made from red-bean paste, infused with Western alcohols.

Containing beneficial kuzumochi nyūsankin

In a proprietary method, Funabashiya has recently succeeded in isolating and powderizing kuzumochi nyūsankin 「くず餅乳酸菌®」, or kuzumochi Lactobacillus Paracasei (lactic acid bacteria), from the fermentation tanks used in the traditional kuzumochi manufacturing process which takes 450 days. According to Funabashiya CEO Masashi Watanabe, kuzumochi nyūsankin is not only a potent probiotic, it can also boost the immune system, is good for the skin and may even alleviate allergies.

Funabashiya Koyomi's mizuyōkan lineup

Their mizuyōkan line, only available at the Funabashiya Koyomi Ecute Edition Shibuya Store, contains kuzumochi nyūsankin, and is sweetened with oligosaccharide, a dietary fiber which has been proven to have numerous health benefits. As with all of Funabashiya's kuzumochi products, no preservatives or additives are used, so freshness is guaranteed for only two days from time of purchase.

The product line comes in the following three varieties:

Plain
Gin (Bombay Sapphire)
Rum (Plantation 3 Stars White Rum)

With the taste of gin or rum blended in, these two mizuyōkan are a great gift idea for those who enjoy alcohol. And since the Shibuya Scramble Square is directly connected to Shibuya Station, it's very convenient to find and a great option for last-minute gift shopping, come rain or shine.