Katsujyudo maintains handmade tradition for Ikaho Onsen manju

Katsujyudo, a 116-year-old confectionery in Ikaho Onsen, Gunma Prefecture, continues to draw large crowds for its signature ‘Yunohana Manju’. The shop is credited as the originator of the popular brown-colored onsen manju, with the skin color designed to evoke the local ‘golden’ hot spring waters.

Despite high demand and long queues that often result in sell-outs by midday, the fourth-generation president, Masahiro Handa, maintains a strict policy of refusing to use machinery or expand the number of storefronts. The shop relies entirely on manual production, with artisans hand-rolling each bun to ensure a specific texture and quality that Handa claims distinguishes it from mass-produced alternatives. The production process requires significant skill, often taking three to five years for a worker to master the necessary technique.