Japan’s obsession with seasonal beauty has produced an edible galaxy
Somewhere between a traditional sweet and a miniature planetarium sits Manten (満天), a summer-only yokan that turns Japan’s obsession with seasonal beauty into something you can actually eat.
Created by long-running wagashi maker Saiundo in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, the confection recreates a star-filled night sky in remarkable detail. A layer of smooth red bean jelly made with Hokkaido azuki beans is topped with blue-tinted Kingyokukan (錦玉羹)—a clear agar jelly often used in Japanese sweets—while gold and silver stars scatter across the surface to form the Milky Way.
The result looks less like dessert than a carefully framed summer sky.
Manten was inspired by a spectacular canopy of stars seen by one of the company’s artisans and has returned every summer since its debut in 2005. Served chilled, it feels especially suited to Japan’s humid midsummer evenings and the approach of Tanabata, the annual star festival celebrated in July.
This year, the sweet arrives with an extra celestial twist. A special package exclusive to Tottori Prefecture—marketed in Japan as the “Starry Sky Prefecture” for its famously dark skies—features the Tottori Sand Dunes beneath a shower of stars. The limited design goes on sale at participating stores across the prefecture from June 19, 2026.
Japan has a habit of turning fleeting seasonal moments into edible art. Manten may be one of the most literal examples: a summer night sky, neatly sliced and served by the piece.
When: May 30–mid-August, 2026 (Saiundo stores) / June 3–mid-August, 2026 (online)
Where to buy: Saiundo stores, online shop, department store events, and other locationsHours: Varies by location
Price: Regular size ¥1,728 / Mini size ¥972
Official site (Japanese only): https://www.saiundo.co.jp
Official online shop (Japanese only): https://netshop.saiundo.co.jp
