Onshino Konpeitō

Onshi no Konpeitō (恩賜の金平糖) or Onshikonpeitō (恩賜金平糖) are small boxes of konpeitō candy given as gifts by the Japanese emperor or on behalf of the emperor.^[1]

Onshino Konpeitō was given out by the 1890s, for example on the occasions of marriages, inthronisations, or other auspicious events.^[2][3]

Konpeito is given in elaborate small boxes called bonbonniere (ボンボニエール), from the French bonbonnière, meaning candy box.^[4] The practice of giving bonbonniere dates back to the commemoration ceremony of the Meiji Constitution in 1889 and has since been thought to be a symbol of good luck. The Japanese Imperial Family has used this gift as the official 'Welcome' gift continuously for over 130 years.^[5][6][7][8]

Another form of imperial gifts that emerged at the same time were the Onshino Tabako products, however this ceased in 2006.

References

1. "皇室の菓子器「ボンボニエール」｜農畜産業振興機構". 農畜産業振興機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
2. "皇室の引き出物にもなっている由緒あるお菓子「金平糖」に注目！ | Sweeten the future". 糖で生活を健やかに | Sweeten the Future (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
3. "皇室の菓子器「ボンボニエール」｜農畜産業振興機構". 農畜産業振興機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
4. Felice Fischer (2008). The art of Japanese craft: 1875 to the present. Philadelphia Museum of Art. p. 60. Tokyo: Kunaicho, 2004. Yorokobi no kobako: bonbonieru no ishobi (Celebratory miniature boxes: the decorative beauty of the bonboniere).
5. . 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2022-07-04. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
6. "幸せを贈る"ボンボニエール"とは？ 皇室ゆかりの菓子器として、引き出物やお祝いに人気". やさしい漆（うるし）｜漆器初心者向けの漆メディア (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
7. "皇室の菓子器「ボンボニエール」｜農畜産業振興機構". 農畜産業振興機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
8. "三笠宮東邸（寛仁親王邸）の調度品と彬子女王殿下へのインタビュー其の1と伝統とは？ - シロガネの草子". 三笠宮東邸（寛仁親王邸）の調度品と彬子女王殿下へのインタビュー其の1と伝統とは？ - シロガネの草子 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-01-26.