Today we're going to Showa once again!

This time in Tokyo where we're gonna be visiting a place called Kankome, which is a Dagashiya where they're selling very old and traditional candy from Showa period.

So let's go and meet Otousan and Okasan and eat some candy!

Today we're in Nakano, an area known for its narrow streets filled with small Izakayas, bars and other fun establishments.

Nakano is one of the most densely populated areas in Tokyo.

However, it does give up a very homely vibe, especially when you visit the quieter market districts where small shops are just starting their day.

One of these is also a Japanese traditional snack store called Kankome.

Kankome is run by Kinzaburo san, and his wife, Keiko san.

As it is quite early in the morning, we are the first customers.

They welcomed us with smiles and interesting stories.

Dagashiya, Japanese traditional snack store, originated in Meiji period.

Dagashi stores used to be especially popular before the age of convenience stores.

At that time, young students would stop by after classes, and enjoy super cheap and tasty candy just for 10 yen a piece.

I think the rice pops in Slovakia are originally from Japan.

We would take our own rice, roll it, when we let it explode, it becomes like that. - Really?

When we take some corn there, it becomes like a popcorn.

It's like a rice popcorn? - Yes, a rice popcorn.

The Showa popcorn!

Dagashiya store Kankome has been around since the 90s.

It started out as a rice selling shop, but due to the shortage of homegrown rice in 2005 that had people in panic, Kinzaburo san decided to change the business and aimed for something that had been missing in his district.

Snack store.

The store next door is a rice shop, yet rice stopped selling as much as before.

But since the store has such wide space, I wanted to start something which is not in this arcade.

That was back in 1993.

1993?

So the snack store only has around 27 to 28 years of history.

The rice shop on the other hand, I'm the 2nd generation, and now the 3rd, my child is running the business.

The rice shop has been running for nearly 90 years.

Did you understand?

Yes I did! I worked my brain a lot.

We decided to give these nostalgic snacks a try.

Yes, you're doing it right!

One of my favorite.

I'll cut it open.

Oh, thank you! So kind!

Cod roe... cod roe flavor.

Salami.

Natou!

Natou??

I'll eat shrimp mayo.

So thick!

This is only 10 yen.

The price has always been 10 yen.

10 yen??

Super cheap.

The flavor is so rich.

I'm eating more?

The old school taste.

You don't have this in Slovakia?

No, they don't have it there.

Do you want the mirror?

Whoops, sorry.

Sorry.

Jell-O.

No no no! Not Jell-O.

It's pickled plum.

Quite sour.

How do I eat it?

Just normally.

If you're going to eat it, stick a straw in.

Suck the liquid with a straw.

Juice?

Japanese...

Japanese cocktail?

It's sour.

Right?

This is not for all.

Taste for adults.

Do you like it?

I really hate it.

Don't like it.

I hate pickled plums so...

I hate the taste.

Tell me before I ate it!

Just leave it.

You can have it.

This is mostly sugar.

Sugar?

This has been sold for decades.

Bite it and pull it with your teeth.

Bite and pull.

Yes, yes.

Pull pull pull!

More, more!

More!

Did it come out?

Pull more?

I can't!

So hard!

Trying bitting in small bits.

Oh! It's fun.

So fun.

10 yen.

Push and... release.

Now it's out!

No prize.

No prize?

Again? - Too bad.

It's gum.

I can eat it?

Special gift for you.

Gift?

This water is expensive.

I'm glad I came here.

It's different from normal water.

Too good.

What a great service!

I'm coming here every day!

After trying out delicious snacks, it was time to play some vintage games.

You got one medal before.

Yes, just one.

How many? - 4.

Wonderful!

It is incredible how many things can fit into one small Dagashiya, and how easy it is to get distracted and forget about time.

BTS?

BTS is the most popular one that they have.

Okay. I don't know him.

Who are your usual customers?

Our main are elementary and kindergarten and junior high.

In order they come are kindergarten, elementary and junior high.

This is the order they come to the store depending on time.

What about adults?

Some come because they feel nostalgia.

They find the snack they used to eat, or say that they found a Dagashiya.

Has the snack changed from before?

You mean the snacks themselves?

Well, I started this business 30 years ago, and the snacks I ate when I was a child... not a lot seemed to have changed.

There are some new ones but some of these have still stayed the same.

What will happen to small snack stores in future?

Sadly, there is not much future.

For us, when one of us is not able to continue, we will close the store.

Continuing alone is impossible.

No matter how much snacks we sell, it won't make a living.

Not possible.

Has the pandemic changed the business?

For us, thanks to the Corona... no, we can't say that!

Thanks to!

The sales went up.

The age of my wife and I combined, we're 150 years old.

We're at the limit.

You still have some time left.

The future of Dagashiya is uncertain.

But for now, we can still enjoy the colors and tastes of this wonderful snack store, and let the atmosphere take us back to the past one more time.

Eat this as well!

It was good.

I actually had a lot of fun with Otousan and Okasan.

They were so kind, and they treated me like a VIP guest.

So thank you very much for watching. See you next time.

Eat this Konpeito. - Konpeito!

Nobunaga Oda, Konpeito!

I like Konpeito.