Creating Original Christmas Sweets with Okazaki's Hatcho Miso

Crafting Festive Delight with Hatcho Miso

On December 20, 2025, the Nagoya branch of Open House Group hosted a special cooking class designed for families at Aichi Gakusen University. This event focused on spreading the joy of cooking and sharing new culinary discoveries during the festive season. The classroom was filled with laughter and excitement as families prepared to create delicious Christmas sweets with a unique twist: the iconic Hatcho Miso from Okazaki.

The cooking class, titled "Christmas Parent-Child Cooking Class," had a thoughtful aim behind it — to enable families to enjoy the holiday season by exploring both the process of cooking and the flavors of their regional cuisine. This initiative was a collaboration between Open House Nagoya and Kaku Kyu, a company famous for its traditional Hatcho Miso, which has been produced in Okazaki since the early Edo period. The event also involved students from the Food Management Department at Aichi Gakusen University, who played a key role in both organizing and guiding the participants.

To kick off the event, the students presented an engaging introduction about Hatcho Miso. Utilizing slides, they shared its historical and cultural significance and introduced fun quizzes to foster an enjoyable learning environment about miso and nutritional education. This interactive segment effectively captured the attention of the attendees and set a cheerful tone for the cooking session ahead.

Participants were thrilled to dive into the culinary exploration where they followed recipes developed by the students themselves. Among the delightful creations were the "Hatcho Miso Omelet" and "Hatcho Miso Cookies." Many attendees expressed surprise and joy when they tasted the sweets, noting how they had never imagined miso could be used in such sweet and delectable ways. From parents to children, smiles and enthusiastic comments about wanting to recreate these treats at home filled the room, painting a picture of success for the event.

The Open House Nagoya branch is committed to engaging with the local community through such initiatives that promote connections and inspire local pride in culinary heritage. Programs like these not only enrich the participants’ knowledge of regional ingredients but also inject vitality into the community's festive spirit.

Event Overview

- Date: December 20, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- Location: Aichi Gakusen University, Cooking Room 6, 28 Kamikawanari, Hegocho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture
- Content: Engage in fun food education quizzes led by students while learning to prepare Christmas sweets using Hatcho Miso. Family participants will cook and taste their creations under the guidance of the students.

About Aichi Gakusen University

Founded in 1912, Aichi Gakusen University originated from a sewing school and has since evolved, emphasizing four core values: sincerity, effort, service, and gratitude. The university offers various programs within the Faculty of Home Economics, including the Lifestyle Studies Department and the Department of Nutritional Management, fostering practical problem-solving skills in collaboration with local communities through experiential learning.

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About Kaku Kyu

Located about 870 meters west of Okazaki Castle, where Tokugawa Ieyasu was born, Kaku Kyu has been making Hatcho Miso using traditional methods since the early Edo period. Now in its 19th generation of management, Kaku Kyu celebrated its 380th anniversary this year. Their facilities include guided tours of the miso brewery and museum, as well as restaurant options featuring miso dishes and desserts to share the rich tradition of Hatcho Miso and its culinary applications.

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Company Overview

- Company Name: Open House Group, Inc.
- Headquarters: 20th and 21st Floor, JP Tower, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-7020
- Founded: September 1997
- Representative: President Ryosuke Fukuoka
- Capital: ¥20.23549 billion
- Employees: 6,620 (as of September 2025)