CASE STUDY

• Dorayaki Machine
• Dorayaki

Tsuruyayozan Co., Ltd.

An-takiya Nakai has had its main store in Hatsugano, a newly developed residential area in Izumi City, Osaka Prefecture, for nine years. In 2024, Tsuruyayozan will celebrate its 55th anniversary since its founding. Originally located in the Kujo shopping district of Osaka City, the store has been in operation since the time of the current owner’s great-grandfather. In 2005, the owner relocated from her home and store in Kujo to start fresh under the name An-takiya Nakai.
Driven by a desire for customers to appreciate the delicate sweetness of red bean paste with its natural aroma, the owner named her specialty an-taki, which translates to red bean shimmering. To make it her store’s name, she added the character taki to her own surname, Nakai.
Shortly after the store’s opening, the Kaminari Donut became a signature item, helping spread the store’s reputation as its products gained popularity. However, with concerns about the future of the business and her father’s health, she made the decision to take over the family operation. In 2015, she opened the main store in Hatsugano, a family-friendly area she stumbled upon by chance.
In terms of products, the store has expanded its selection of gift items. When developing Western-style sweets, Nakai focused on managing the production of red bean paste and began crafting new treats that featured Japanese ingredients, without relying on red bean paste. The owner also reworked their dorayaki recipe, rebranding it as Pandora to highlight its pancake, which has more of a Western pastry texture. Additionally, through listening to customer feedback, staff suggestions, and personal experiences such as childbirth, she has created a range of innovative sweets that blend traditional Japanese flavors with new ideas, including Medakayaki and Harenohisan.
Looking ahead, Nakai’s goal is to continue introducing more people to the delights of Japanese sweets by using premium ingredients and refining their products through constant experimentation. Nakai aims to create treats that every staff member can proudly call delicious, establishing the shop as a place where customers are always eager to return, having enjoyed the flavors.

• Compact Type Dorayaki Machine