KARUYAKI were common cheap sweets in early modern times in Japan. In Tsuyama, they were made and sent to Edo, as gifts from Naritarni Matsudaira, the Lord of the Tsuyama Clan. As sweets of OKUNIMOTO they had various uses in the first half of the 19th century, as NAIKENJO to his lord the Shogun, as a gift when offering sympathy or as a return for some favor. In modern times, KARUYAKI of Tsuyama have had a signature product named HATSUYUKI, developed as Tsuyama MEIKA. In the latter half of 1890s, the number of makers increased and with frequent participation in exhibitions, the sweets came to be presented to the Emperor during army special large-scale maneuvers and royal visits. As the Tsuyama Hatsuyuki Production Co., Ltd., became established, HATSUYUKI became very popularity and came to represent Tsuyama MEIKA. However, with a decline in people’s impression of Tsuyama from HATSUYUKI as well as decrease in the number of makers, it has become difficult to associate HAT SUYUKI with Tsuyama MEIKA.
