Kompeitō

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (February 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Konpeito in various colors.

Kompeito, also spelled as konpeito (Japanese: 金平糖, 金米糖, or 金餅糖 in Kanji, or こんぺいとう・コンペイトー in kana, konpeitō) is a Japanese candy originally made in Portugal.

1 History
2 Production
3 Popular culture
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

The word "konpeito" comes from the Portuguese word confeito, which means a sugar candy. It was introduced to Japan somewhere around the 15th and 16th century by traders from Europe. The infrastructure and refining technology of sugar had not yet been established in Japan in those days. As konpeito uses a lot of sugar, it was very rare and expensive as a result. In 1569, Luís Fróis, a Portuguese missionary, presented a flask of konpeito to Oda Nobunaga in order to obtain the permit for mission work of Christianity.

[edit] Production

Konpeito is usually 5 to 10 millimeters in diameter. Each piece is covered with tiny bulges, which occur in the cooking process. It usually takes 7 to 10 days to make konpeito and they are handmade even today. Konpeito is made by showering sugar water in a giant spinning tub called dora. This forming process is a topic in molecular engineering, as these bulges would not form if the tub spun faster.

[edit] Popular culture

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

The Everlasting Gobstoppers from the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory have an appearance similar to konpeito.
The Soot Balls (coal-carrying sprites) in the Hayao Miyazaki animated film Spirited Away are fed konpeito by Lin after their work shift in the bathhouse boiler room.
Shima Katase, the protagonist of the animated series Stellvia of the Universe, keeps a jar of konpeito in her room as a sentimental reminder of her homeland. As a recurring theme of the series, Shima is often seen eating the candy or sharing it with others.
In episode 32 of the popular anime series Bleach, Renji Abarai gives Rukia Kuchiki konpeito, and Rukia later defends a child who has his konpeito taken from him by an older kid.
In the popular anime and manga series Paradise Kiss, Miwako Sakurada keeps a jar of konpeito that was given to her by Santa (really her friends Arashi and Hiroyuki). She eats it when her stomach hurts and calls it her "magic medicine."
Konpeito is a recurring item in Hisaya Nakajo's current manga series, Sugar Princess.
In episode 6 of Ojamajo Doremi Na-i-sho, konpeito plays a minor role in the plotline of the episode.
Episode 5 of Hamtaro (Diamonds of Sugar) revolves around the Ham-Ham gang trying to obtain konpeito, which they believe to be the stars in the sky.
In Sailor Moon the Movie S: Hearts in Ice the "Star-flakes" Luna enjoys eating are actually called konpeito in the original Japanese.
In Mobile Suit Gundam the Zeon space fortress Solomon is shaped like a konpeito. After it's captured by the Earth Federation, it's renamed "Konpeito."
In the 'Tenshu Monogatari' story of the anime Ayakashi~ Japanese Classic Horror, konpeito is shown being offered to pet falcons. The protagonists share konpeito among each other too.
In the Marl Kingdom series, some characters (Cornet, Kururu, etc.) have the ability to use a special konpeito attack after receiving enough music notes. They can also attack with things such as pancakes, flan, cake, and hearts.
In the video game Super Mario Galaxy, there are items called "Star Bits" that are shaped like konpeito. A character mentions that they "look like candy," and the fact that they are actually edible is an integral game play mechanic.
In WarioWare Touched! on one of Ashleys' minigames where you dump candy into a jar, the candy on the third level looks like konpeito.
In episode 2 of Mokke, Mizuki feeds konfeito to a wandering Izuna she has been possessed by.
In episode 2 of They are my Noble Master's, Kuki Ageha gives Uesugi Ren some konpeito after Ren cleans her shoes and compliments her.
In episode 6 of Tactics, Suzu shares a bag of konpeito with her friends, as well as the ghost of a young girl.