One string cut, and suddenly the whole thing turns into food photography bait
A fig this glossy almost looks fake — until the knife goes through.
Fruit daifuku specialist Benzaiten has released Ichijiku Daifuku（いちじく大福）, a limited early-summer sweet built around rare greenhouse-grown figs from Aichi Prefecture. Cut with a string, as daifuku traditionally is, the dessert opens to reveal a jewel-toned red center wrapped in white bean paste and translucent gyuhi, the soft, stretchy Japanese rice cake.
The figs used here arrive far earlier than Japan’s usual fig season, which typically begins in August. Shipped from April, these delicate “house figs” are known for their short window of peak quality and limited circulation.
Benzaiten uses the Masui Dauphine variety, prized for its rich sweetness and tender flesh. The thin gyuhi and smooth white bean paste are intentionally restrained, letting the fully ripened fruit do most of the work.
Visually, it lands somewhere between traditional wagashi and a perfectly staged social media post. But the appeal is also seasonal: a dessert built around the excitement of tasting something before its time.
Ichijiku Daifuku has been on sale since April 27, 2026, starting at ¥1,190, at Benzaiten stores and the brand’s official online shop, while supplies last.
Some luxury desserts rely on gold leaf or spectacle. This one just cuts itself open and lets the fig talk.
Ichijiku Daifuku
・When: From April 27, 2026 (while supplies last)
・Where: Benzaiten stores across Japan and official online shop
・Price: From ¥1,190
・Official site (Japanese only): https://ec.benzaiten-daifuku.jp
