Yoitomake is the signature confection of Mitsuboshi, a long-established confectionery company founded in 1898 and based in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. This distinctive roll cake is generously coated with haskap jam and has been a beloved local favorite for more than half a century.
Yoitomake is made from a soft roll castella cake generously spread with haskap jam. The jam is applied both inside and around the cake, while granulated sugar is sprinkled over the surface.
Haskap is a berry native to northern regions, and Mitsuboshi has long focused on the berries that grow naturally in the Yufutsu Plain around Tomakomai. Its distinctive combination of gentle sweetness and a pronounced wild tartness gives Yoitomake its characteristic flavor.
The rich sweetness of the cake and sugar is balanced by the refreshing acidity of haskap, creating a striking sweet-and-tart harmony. It pairs naturally with coffee and tea, and is particularly enjoyable with a glass of cold milk.
The unusual name “Yoitomake” comes from a traditional work chant used at a local paper mill when workers moved logs. The roll cake itself was designed to resemble a log, making the confection closely connected to the history and landscape of Tomakomai.
The log-inspired shape was deliberately preserved by its creator, Masatoshi Kobayashi, even after customers began complaining that the cake was difficult to eat.
Yoitomake has an unusual feature: the cake is wrapped in edible oblaat, a very thin edible film. This helps prevent the sticky haskap jam and sugar from getting onto your hands while eating.
However, the film can make the cake somewhat awkward to cut, and removing it can leave your fingers sticky. Because of this, Yoitomake has playfully been described as “Japan’s most difficult sweet to eat.”
To make the cake easier to divide, a new version designed to be cut into seven portions was introduced in 2009. The following year, the original shape was discontinued.
However, many fans missed the distinctive original version and its famously awkward eating experience. In response to their requests, the original-style Yoitomake revival version returned in January 2012.
Yoitomake is more than a simple roll cake. Its haskap flavor, log-like shape and unusual name all reflect the history and character of Tomakomai.
For travelers exploring southern Hokkaido, this combination of sweet cake and tart local berry offers a memorable way to experience one of the region’s distinctive food traditions.