Mikawaya facts for kids
 |
|
| Industry | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1910 in Los Angeles, California |
| Founder | Ryuzaburo Hashimoto |
| Headquarters | Torrance, California |
|
Key people
|
Frances Hashimoto (President and CEO 1970–2012) |
| Products | |
Mikawaya is an American company that makes delicious Japanese sweets and snacks. They are famous for traditional treats called wagashi and a special dessert they invented called mochi ice cream. Mochi ice cream is so popular that it makes up most of Mikawaya's sales today!
Contents
The Story of Mikawaya
Mikawaya started as a small shop in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles in 1910. It was founded by Ryuzaburo Hashimoto. The shop sold traditional Japanese sweets called wagashi. It was a family business, run by Koroku and Haru Hashimoto.
Challenges During World War II
In 1942, during World War II, the Hashimoto family had to close their shop. They were sent to a special camp in Arizona. This was a difficult time for many Japanese American families. After the war ended, the Hashimotos returned to Los Angeles. They reopened Mikawaya on December 23, 1945.
Frances Hashimoto Takes Over
In 1970, Frances Hashimoto became the CEO of Mikawaya. She was only 27 years old. Her mother asked her to join the family business after her father passed away. Frances was an elementary school teacher at the time. She thought about it for six months before deciding to lead Mikawaya.
Growing the Business
Frances Hashimoto wanted Mikawaya to grow bigger. She aimed to open more stores. In 1974, she opened a second bakery in Los Angeles.
New Store Locations
Under Frances's leadership, Mikawaya expanded. They opened more stores in Little Tokyo. They also added locations in Torrance, California, Gardena, California, and Honolulu, Hawaii. The main store in Little Tokyo closed its doors permanently on June 29, 2021.
The Invention of Mochi Ice Cream
Frances Hashimoto is known for inventing the popular mochi ice cream. She also helped introduce it to people all over America.
How Mochi Ice Cream Was Created
In the early 1990s, Frances's husband, Joel Friedman, had an idea. He thought about wrapping small balls of ice cream in mochi. Mochi is a sweet Japanese rice cake. Frances took this idea and made it even better. She created seven different flavors of mochi ice cream for Mikawaya.
Mochi Ice Cream's Popularity
Mochi ice cream became a huge hit with customers! It helped Mikawaya sell more than just traditional Japanese pastries. Now, you can find Mikawaya's mochi ice cream in many grocery stores. These include Albertsons, Trader Joe's, Ralphs, and Safeway. Today, mochi ice cream makes up most of Mikawaya's sales.
