The Sweets Yukio Mishima Loved

Madeleines, loved by Yukio Mishima

Yukio Mishima stayed with his family in Shimoda, Izu every summer for the past seven years, including the year he died in 1970 (Showa 45).





Mishima loved the sea, especially the sea in Shimoda.

In Shimoda, Mishima interacted with the locals on friendly terms. The people of Shimoda did not view him as special. For example, if they happened to come across him strolling alone on a bridge, they would casually say hello and strike up a conversation. This is typical of the people of Shimoda.

In Shimoda, we can see the real Yukio Mishima, stripped of his armor.

Yukio Mishima enjoyed spending time at various shops in Shimoda. The one I would like to introduce here is Nisshindo Kashiten.

Mishima described the madeleines from this confectionery shop as "madeleines that we can be proud of around the world." He frequently visited the shop and bought some during his stay in Shimoda.





Mishima would sometimes buy in bulk for business associates or members of the "Shield Society（楯の会）" who visited him. He would walk into the shop, chat with the owners, and then walk home with the heavy madeleines in both hands. He said it was good for his body.

"The Summer Mishima Yukio Came（三島由紀夫の来た夏）," published by Fusosha（扶桑社） and written by Ikuyo Yokoyama（横山郁代）, owner of Nisshindo Kashiten, describes Mishima Yukio in Shimoda in detail.





This book is a must-read for Yukio Mishima fans.

Ikuyo Yokoyama is also a jazz singer, and when she was a sensitive teenager, she met Yukio Mishima at this confectionery shop and in various places around Shimoda.

In the summer three months before Mishima's suicide, Yukio Mishima visited this shop, and as he was leaving, he stood straight ahead at the entrance and dramatically and politely said in a loud voice, "Goodbye!" (He didn't say "I'll come again" as he usually did.)

Nisshindo's madeleines and Deika Sakata's Hagi ware

By the way, you may know that Shimoda is associated with Yoshida Shoin, whom Mishima greatly admired.





Coincidentally, there is a shrine in Shimoda called the Mishima Shrine that houses a statue of Yoshida Shoin. Mishima praised this statue highly.

Yoshida Shoin was from Hagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, so the teacup in the photo above is my favorite piece of Hagi ware. I paired it with madeleines, which Mishima loved.




[br-xxlThis Hagi ware teacup is from Deika Sakata, a renowned Hagi ware maker. It was crafted by the 15th-generation Deika Sakata. As you can see, there is a small chip on the rim, but I now believe that it adds to its charm.

In any case, Nisshindo's moist, slightly damp madeleines are exquisite. It's no wonder they were praised by Yukio Mishima.

Lab Deep in Kamakura　Juei Masuda