Thank you for joining our tour! We welcomed 31 guests from US, Spain, Czech Republic, Canada, Israel, Portugal, Greece, Australia, Singapore, Belgium, and Uzbekistan. Everyone enjoyed the 2.5 hour walk under the clear autumn sky.
The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace contain the site that triggered the famous 47 Ronin story. Here, we guides talk about the concept of “Seppuku(=Harakiri suicide)”. Seppuku is the samurai’s ritual suicide by cutting open their stomach as a gesture of deep apology. But can you imagine a traditional Japanese sweet named after it? Introducing the Seppuku Monaka (切腹最中), a confectionary with a dark sense of humor.
Monaka is made by sandwiching sweet bean paste (anko) and mochi between two crisp wafers. However Seppuku Monaka was created as a corporate apology gift. Normally wafer shells are tightly closed, but this one is overfilled with anko that it bursts out of the wafer shell. This overflowing filling is intended to visually represent the dramatic scene of the seppuku act.
The creator of this sweet came up with this idea as his confectionary shop in Shimbashi Tokyo happened to be the site where the master of the 47 Ronin actually performed the Seppuku act back in 1701.
Today, when one has made a serious mistake at work, he would buy this Seppuku Monaka and present it to the offended party. It’s a way to convey a deep apology with a touch of dark, self-deprecating wit. The gesture says, ” I messed up, and I’m taking full, painful responsibility.” It expresses sincerity while offering a delicious treat, allowing the recipient to “consume the apology” in a funny lighthearted way.
This Gimmicky confectionary can be found at the Tokyo Station and major transport hubs. So the next time you screw something up, why not consider this apology gift? Just be careful: if the recipient doesn’t get the joke, this gift could easily backfire and cause more offense. ;p
Once again, thank you for choosing Tokyo Free Walking Tour during your stay in Tokyo. Your feedback is important and helpful to us. If you enjoyed our tour, please consider posting a review on our TripAdvisor/Facebook etc. Your comments will help contribute to higher-quality tours.
Posted by Asako
For more information about our tour, please visit our website at https:https://tfwt.jp/east-gardens-of-the-imperial-palace/, https://www.facebook.com/TokyoFWT or Tokyo Free Walking Tour at https://www.tripadvisor.jp/.
