Droplets of a Clear Stream

When I went to visit Hachiman-cho in Gujo City

I found a jelly that reminded me of the round

water balloons often seen at festivals

I saw a poster and was drawn to its

transparency and freshness, so I quickly tapped on my smartphone

and searched for it on a map app

It appeared right away: Nakasho Confectionery in Hachiman-cho, Gujo City

The shop was located right near the Gujo Hachiman

Old Government Memorial Hall

It is a historic confectionery shop that has been

loved by the people of Hachiman-cho, Gujo City since just after the war

and "Droplets of a Clear Stream" is popular as a

seasonal chilled treat from Nakasho Confectionery

so I was lucky to be able to get my hands on it

before it sold out

I made sure to buy two, one for my wife and one for me

I had them include one black honey and one white honey syrup each

You can buy them at the shop and eat them right there

at the table in front of the store

so I think I will try eating them at the storefront next time

Available only in summer, from late April to the end of September.

The shelf life is about five days.

Looking at the website, it seems that

you can also purchase them online.

If you'd like, please take a look at

the Nakasho Confectionery website.

They have large sweetfish, macarons, delicious-looking cakes, and

baked goods too, so you're bound to be tempted! 😆

I got home and just had the Clear Stream Droplets

that I had chilled well in the refrigerator.

When I took it out of the bag again,

the plump, round balloon

was so full and spherical

that it looked like it might burst at any moment.

Reading the included instructions on how to eat it,

it said to place it on a deep small plate and prick it with a toothpick,

so the balloon would pop and the jelly inside would

come out with a wobble, so

I decided to try popping it right away,

and braced myself with a toothpick in hand.

Hmm.

Going out of your way to pop a balloon yourself

takes quite a bit of nerve, I thought to myself.

I, being a coward, poked the balloon with a toothpick.

The sensation of the toothpick being pushed back by the balloon's elasticity

made my cowardly heart even more nervous.

As I slowly pressed the tip into it, in an instant,

the balloon popped with a bang, and I was startled.

Cold droplets splashed and wet my cheek.

I couldn't help but laugh; it reminded me of a nostalgic feeling from my childhood.

As if overflowing from inside the balloon, onto the plate

was a plump, transparent droplet.

It's a beautiful jelly that looks just like a water droplet.

Since I was using a Sumikko Gurashi small plate,

through the transparent droplet, the Sumikko Gurashi

character was clearly visible.

It's almost too much of a waste to eat.

It's so plump, and rather, that transparency...

It is so beautiful that I want to keep looking at it without breaking it.

I am captivated by the jelly.

Since it is jelly, it is only polite to enjoy it

when it is well chilled.

I decided to have the Droplets of a Clear Stream right away.

I chose the brown sugar syrup, and my wife chose the white sugar syrup,

and we poured them over our respective jellies.

I plunged my spoon into the surface of the jelly.

It wobbled, and the sphere distorted,

and a bite-sized piece of jelly

landed on my spoon.

The modest sweetness of the brown sugar syrup combined with the smoothness of the jelly

made me feel an irresistible sense of happiness.

As I savored the coolness filling my mouth,

I felt truly glad to have been able to enjoy this jelly,

which captures the wonder of the clear water of Gujo City.

With a sigh of contentment, the two of us

took turns eating and comparing the brown and white sugar syrups.

The jelly with the white sugar syrup

had a refreshing sweetness that was different from the brown sugar syrup.

Even if I were asked to choose only one of the two syrups that go so well with the jelly,

I don't have the confidence to be able to choose.

😆

The chilled confection called "Drops of a Clear Stream"

that I encountered while sightseeing in Gujo City

is a wonderful drop that I would love to taste again next time,

and it has firmly and refreshingly

soaked into the memories of my heart.

This trip was one where I was truly grateful for the blessings

of the clear, beautiful water flowing through Gujo City.