Mikawaya was founded as a small, traditional Japanese wagashi confectionery store in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles in 1910.[3] In 1942, The owners of the family-owned business, husband and wife Koroku and Haru Hashimoto, were forced to close their business with the outbreak of World War II.[3] Koroku and Haru Hashimoto were interned and sent to the Poston War Relocation Center in Poston, Arizona.[3] They returned to Los Angeles following their release and the end of the war. The Hashimotos reopened Mikawaya at 244 E. First Street in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo neighborhood on December 23, 1945.[3]
Frances Hashimoto became CEO of Mikawaya in 1970 when she was 27 years old.[1] Her father had recently died and her mother asked her to join the family-run confectionery business. Hashimoto, who was working as an elementary school teacher at the time, considered her decision for six months before leaving teaching and joining Mikawaya.[1]
Expansionedit
Hashimoto sought to expand the family's business from one location in Little Tokyo to a multi-store enterprise.[1] In 1974, she opened a second bakery location on Fourth Street in Los Angeles.[3] Under Hashimoto, who served as CEO and president, Mikawaya expanded to include additional locations in Little Tokyo, Torrance, California, Gardena, California, and Honolulu, Hawaii.[2][3] On June 29, 2021, the company's flagship store located at the Japanese Village Plaza in Little Tokyo permanently closed.[4]
The Mochi ice cream lineedit
Frances Hashimoto is credited as the inventor of the popular mochi ice cream.[1][2] She also spearheaded the line's introduction the American market through Mikawaya.[1][2] Hashimoto's husband, Joel Friedman, initially conceived the idea of wrapping small orbs of ice cream with a coating of mochi, a sweet Japanese rice cake, during the early 1990s.[3] Hashimoto expanded on the idea, offering seven flavors of mochi ice cream made by Mikawaya.[1] The mochi ice cream line proved a hit with consumers, expanding Mikawaya from more traditional Japanese pastries like chestnut buns or rice cakes.[1][2] Mikawaya now sells its mochi ice cream in Albertsons, Trader Joe's, Ralphs, and Safeway.[1] Mochi ice cream now accounts for the majority of Mikawaya's sales.[2]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghiWatanabe, Teresa (2012-11-07). "Frances Hashimoto dies at 69; Little Tokyo leader, mochi ice cream creator". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
^ abcdefgEndo, Ellen (2012-11-05). "Mikwaya CEO Hashimoto Passes at 69". Rafu Shimpo. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
^"111-Year-Old Mochi Ice Cream Shop in LA's Little Tokyo Shuts Down". www.yahoo.com. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
External linksedit
Mikawaya
April 14, 2024
mikawaya, american, confectionery, producer, specializing, japanese, pastries, snacks, desserts, company, products, include, traditional, wagashi, well, newer, offerings, such, mochi, cream, mochi, cream, which, created, former, president, frances, hashimoto, . Mikawaya is an American confectionery producer specializing in Japanese pastries snacks and desserts 1 The company s products include traditional wagashi as well as newer offerings such as mochi ice cream Mochi ice cream which was created by Mikawaya s former CEO and President Frances Hashimoto now represents the majority of Mikawaya s annual sales 2 Mikawaya IncorporatedIndustryIce creamConfectioneryFounded1910 114 years ago 1910 in Los Angeles CaliforniaFounderRyuzaburo HashimotoHeadquartersTorrance CaliforniaKey peopleFrances Hashimoto President and CEO 1970 2012 ProductsWagashiMochi ice creamWebsitewww wbr mikawayausa wbr com Contents 1 History 2 Expansion 3 The Mochi ice cream line 4 References 5 External linksHistory editMikawaya was founded as a small traditional Japanese wagashi confectionery store in Little Tokyo Los Angeles in 1910 3 In 1942 The owners of the family owned business husband and wife Koroku and Haru Hashimoto were forced to close their business with the outbreak of World War II 3 Koroku and Haru Hashimoto were interned and sent to the Poston War Relocation Center in Poston Arizona 3 They returned to Los Angeles following their release and the end of the war The Hashimotos reopened Mikawaya at 244 E First Street in Los Angeles Little Tokyo neighborhood on December 23 1945 3 Frances Hashimoto became CEO of Mikawaya in 1970 when she was 27 years old 1 Her father had recently died and her mother asked her to join the family run confectionery business Hashimoto who was working as an elementary school teacher at the time considered her decision for six months before leaving teaching and joining Mikawaya 1 Expansion editHashimoto sought to expand the family s business from one location in Little Tokyo to a multi store enterprise 1 In 1974 she opened a second bakery location on Fourth Street in Los Angeles 3 Under Hashimoto who served as CEO and president Mikawaya expanded to include additional locations in Little Tokyo Torrance California Gardena California and Honolulu Hawaii 2 3 On June 29 2021 the company s flagship store located at the Japanese Village Plaza in Little Tokyo permanently closed 4 The Mochi ice cream line editFrances Hashimoto is credited as the inventor of the popular mochi ice cream 1 2 She also spearheaded the line s introduction the American market through Mikawaya 1 2 Hashimoto s husband Joel Friedman initially conceived the idea of wrapping small orbs of ice cream with a coating of mochi a sweet Japanese rice cake during the early 1990s 3 Hashimoto expanded on the idea offering seven flavors of mochi ice cream made by Mikawaya 1 The mochi ice cream line proved a hit with consumers expanding Mikawaya from more traditional Japanese pastries like chestnut buns or rice cakes 1 2 Mikawaya now sells its mochi ice cream in Albertsons Trader Joe s Ralphs and Safeway 1 Mochi ice cream now accounts for the majority of Mikawaya s sales 2 References edit a b c d e f g h i Watanabe Teresa 2012 11 07 Frances Hashimoto dies at 69 Little Tokyo leader mochi ice cream creator Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2012 12 02 a b c d e f Lee Wendy 2012 11 07 Frances Hashimoto creator of mochi ice cream dies KPCC Retrieved 2012 12 02 a b c d e f g Endo Ellen 2012 11 05 Mikwaya CEO Hashimoto Passes at 69 Rafu Shimpo Retrieved 2012 12 02 111 Year Old Mochi Ice Cream Shop in LA s Little Tokyo Shuts Down www yahoo com 2 July 2021 Retrieved 2021 07 09 External links editMikawaya Mochi Ice Cream Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mikawaya amp oldid 1193404604, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
