The amigurumi was inspired by a well-known Japanese confection, the sakura mochi in the Kanto chomeiji style. Unlike the more well known Kansai domyoji style, the chomeiji sakura mochi has a thin layer of smooth mochi is rolled over the red bean paste, then wrapped with a salt-pickled sakura leaf. It was created in 1717 by Yamamoto Shinroku, a gatekeeper at Chomeiji Temple, in present-day Mukojima, Tokyo. It became a famous regional specialty of Edo (present-day Tokyo) and was featured in ukiyo-e prints by Utagawa Hiroshige, Utagawa Kunisada and Utagawa Yoshitsuya. The shop, Yamamoto-ya is still located in the same spot and continues to be known for its sakura mochi.

Pattern Notes

This pattern is beginner-friendly.

It has 3 parts: the oblong shaped red bean filling, the oval shaped pink mochi and the sakura leaf.

The red bean filling and mochi are worked in the round. The red bean filling is an oblong shaped tube that is stuffed, while the mochi is a flat oval.

The sakura leaf is worked in rows. It can also be used on its own or in other crochet projects that call for crochet leaves.

Finished Size

Approx. 5.5cm at its longest, 4cm at its widest, and 4cm at its tallest.
The finished size can vary depending on hook size, yarn weight and crochet tension.

Materials & Tools

• Yarn, fingering/sports weight in light pink, red bean colour, leaf green / olive green
• 2mm or 2.5mm crochet hook
• Stuffing
• Stitch markers
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• Safety eyes (optional)
• Embroidery thread (optional)

I used Scheepjes Catona No.238 Powder Pink, No.396 Rose Wine and No.395 Willow.

Crochet Techniques

This pattern uses US crochet terms and consists of the following stitches and techniques:

ch : chain
sl st : slip stitch
sc : single crochet
inc : increase (2 sc in same st)

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