Sweet Escape Kanazawa – First Release: “Matcha Macaron Sablé KINTSUGI”
In August 2025, the first product from the collaborative project “Sweet Escape”—creating Kanazawa-inspired souvenir sweets with artists—was launched: “Matcha Macaron Sablé KINTSUGI”, now available at je prends ça Kanazawa Station Anto Store.
This project came to life when illustrator Molly Maine, a digital nomad who participated in the Urban Retreat in November 2024, met Nozaki Bussan Co., Ltd., a Kanazawa-based company with over 100 years of experience in confectionery ingredient wholesale. Their encounter during the program sparked this unique collaboration.
◆ About Sweet Escape Kanazawa (Scaping Kanazawa’s landscapes through sweets)
By collaborating with artists and their unique perspectives, this project captures the essence and aesthetics of Kanazawa, fostering both the local economy and the city’s creative culture through confectionery. Its goal is to carry Kanazawa’s deep-rooted confectionery traditions forward to the next generation.
For the first collaboration, British artist Molly Maine’s work “Falling Rain” was chosen as the package design. The piece was inspired by the atmosphere she experienced during her extended stay in Kanazawa.
◆ About the Artist: Molly Maine
Molly Maine is an illustrator and designer from London, known for her graphic travel illustrations that skillfully use light, color, and perspective. Her works often revolve around themes of travel and culture. Since 2016, she has pursued a nomadic lifestyle, working as a freelance artist while traveling through over 50 countries.
The sweet “Matcha Macaron Sablé KINTSUGI × Falling Rain” was also showcased in her solo exhibition “NOMAD | Perspectives on Home in a Changing Japan”, held in London from July 4, 2025, for 10 days.
Exhibition details: https://www.mollymaineillustration.com/nomad-exhibition
◆ Expressing Kanazawa’s Aesthetic – The Birth of Matcha Macaron Sablé KINTSUGI
Kanazawa produces about 99% of Japan’s gold leaf. Beyond tea utensils and traditional crafts, gold finds its way into cosmetics, food, and even building materials—making Kanazawa truly a “City of Gold.” To embody this local sense of beauty in a confection, the “Matcha Macaron Sablé KINTSUGI” was created.
This indulgent sweet layers matcha-flavored marshmallow cream between a crispy matcha sablé and a soft, airy macaron shell. Finished with an appearance reminiscent of kintsugi (the art of repairing pottery with gold), it offers a taste and visual experience that reflects the landscapes of Kanazawa.
