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The most common type of higashi use wooden molds called 'kigata' (木型) to create intricate designs in sugar.
Kigata were used to make both smaller, affordable sweets for tea ceremony, and larger, often prohibitively expensive creations for special celebrations or for display.
Wooden molds used to create dried sweets... this produces a pine tree, long a symbol of celebration and longevity.
Wooden molds used to create dried sweets... these produce ume blossoms and pine branches.
Wooden molds used to create dried sweets... these produce sweets in the shape of Noh masks.
Dried sweets, designed to be used a decoration for celebrations.