A chocolate specialty shop "Romansu Storm-aged Sugar (Romance Chocolate)" (TEL 0172-88-9015, Kamikocho, Hirosaki City) opened near Hirosaki Park on October 5th.

This store was opened by Ginmasa Sudo, the owner of "Atelier Airgead", which sells bar-only chocolate mainly in Tokyo. According to Mr. Sudo, he is particular about home-roasted cocoa beans at Tohoku's first craft chocolate workshop.

Mr. Sudo is from Hirosaki. During high school, when I was struggling to lose weight in the boxing club, the sweets that lined up on the display at a pastry shop looked like jewels, so after graduating I went to a confectionery college.

After graduating from a vocational school, he gained experience at the popular chocolate store “Pierre Marcolini” and became independent in 2016. We launched "Argud" and studied food pairing, and developed chocolate that suits alcohol. Currently, it is said that chocolate is shipped to over 100 bars nationwide, mainly in Tokyo and Ginza.

Regarding the launch of "Romance Chocolate," Mr. Sudo said, "There are many people who want us to sell chocolates exclusively for bars, so I thought about creating a new brand and developing it. I thought.”

I started preparing around November last year. The interior of the store has been unified under the theme of Taisho romance to match the atmosphere of Hirosaki, which has many Western-style buildings. The chocolate packaging also incorporates newspapers from the Taisho era into the design. When the staff called out to local colleagues, Hoka Yonemura, whom an acquaintance introduced, was adopted as a chocolatier. Classmates also cooperate as staff.

The line-up is 600 yen for each of 4 types of 30-gram chocolate bar of self-roasted cacao chocolate. Bonbon chocolate assortment with ganache (fresh chocolate) is 2,500 yen for 6 pieces. 3,800 yen for 10 pieces. A limited number of today's cocoa nibs (500 yen) and fresh chocolate (380 yen) made from cacao bean chocolate sprinkled with cocoa nibs will be sold. Above, not including tax.

Mr. Sudo wants to create an environment where he can come to Hirosaki at a pace of about two or three days a month while continuing to play "Argud" in Tokyo. There is a plan to use the chocolate produced in Hirosaki in Tokyo in the future, he says, "I want to make chocolate take root in Hirosaki."

"Chocolate is said to have the effect of lowering blood pressure in recent years and is also good for health. If Hirosaki can spread the attention-grabbing health effect in Hirosaki, it can be spread nationwide through chocolate."

Business hours are from 11:00 to 20:00. Closed on Mondays.