Taiyaki
Not to be confused with Takoyaki.
Taiyaki (たい焼き, , literally "baked sea bream") is a Japanese fish-shaped cake. The most common filling is red bean paste that is made from sweetened azuki beans. Other common fillings may be custard, chocolate, or cheese. Some shops even sell taiyaki with okonomiyaki, gyoza filling, or a sausage inside.
Taiyaki is made using regular pancake or waffle batter. The batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold for each side. The filling is then put on one side and the mold is closed. It is then cooked on both sides until golden brown.
Taiyaki was first baked by a sweet shop Naniwaya in Azabu, Tokyo in 1909, and now can be found all over Japan, especially at food courts of supermarkets and Japanese festivals (祭, matsuri) and other Asian countries (for example Korea, but they call it buunga baang).
They are similar to imagawayaki (今川焼き), which are thick round cakes also filled with sweet azuki bean paste or custard.
In popular culture
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Taiyaki was the theme of a 1975–76 Japanese hit single, "Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun" ("Swim! Taiyaki") sung by Masato Shimon. The single sold more than 4.5 million copies, and remains the largest-selling Japanese single to this day (as of February 2007[update]). Originally written for a children's TV program, the song was about a taiyaki escaping from the vendor stand into the sea, enjoying his brief freedom there until he is finally caught by a fisherman and consumed. It was a thinly veiled satire of the overworked Japanese businessman, with whom the record struck a chord, resulting in the unexpected mega-hit.
It is the favorite food of Ayu Tsukimiya from Kanon, also Renji Abarai from Bleach.
It is practically the only food that Golden Darkness eats in To Love-Ru.
It is also mildly consumed by Zatch thinking it is real yellowtail tuna from Zatch Bell.
In the video game Portal, one of the modules making up the game's villain, GLaDOS, talks only about absurd cake recipes, including fish-shaped cake.
The manga Full Moon o Sagashite had a bonus strip where Mitsuki, Meroko, and Takuto discuss how to eat taiyaki.
Taiyaki was briefly introduced in the Japanese high school drama Nobuta wo Produce starring Kamenashi Kazuya (KAT-TUN), Yamashita Tomohisa (Kurosagi), and Horikita Maki, where Yamashita's character explained how eating the head of the fish first made him feel happy.
It is eaten by characters Chiyo and Osaka at a cultural festival in episode 16 of the anime series Azumanga Daioh.
Taiyaki is offered to Ilya during their meetings by the main character in the visual novel Fate/stay night.
It is the favorite snack of Frey. (The Mythical Detective Loki)
Also found in the anime Ai Yori Aoshi, an entire episode. (Aoi trying to find Koaru to try Taiyaki, for the first time, made by a legendary taiyaki maker)
Taiyaki has brief appearances in the anime Shugo Chara as well. Hinamori Amu gives chocolate Taiyaki to Tsukiyomi Ikuto.
In Disgaea: Hour of Darkness and Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories the player can purchase taiyaki as a healing item.
In an episode of Ojamajo Doremi Na-i-sho, taiyaki is the main subject as a classmate tries to make better taiyaki than his father, with the help of the Ojamajos.
In K-On!, Yui Hirasawa gave Azusa(Azu-nya) and she loves it.
See also
References
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