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Dagashi (Japanese: 駄菓子) refers to cheap candies and snack foods that can generally be bought for between 5 and 10 yen (¥). Dagashi are comparable to American penny candy. The word "dagashi" is derived from the Japanese words "da" ("futile" or "negligible") and "kashi" (snacks). The low price and fun packaging is designed to attract children with small allowances, and "dagashi" came to be known as the small candies that children can afford with pocket money. Most dagashi are packaged in bright, childish wrapping and sometimes come with a small toy or prize. The toys are often small figurines, and a common prize is a randomized prize that will allow the holder to claim a second free snack. Dagashi used to be sold in stores specializing primarily in dagashi called "dagashiya" (Japanese: 駄菓子屋), but are now increasingly sold in convenience stores as well.
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History
While the modern dagashi was developed after World War 2, dagashi has been around since the Edo period (1603-1868), though the region of origin is unknown. "Dagashi", made from starch or corn, was the commoner equivalent of the more expensive "jōgashi", which was higher quality and made from white sugar. Modern dagashi experienced its greatest popularity from the 1950s to the early 1980s in Japan when dagashiyas were common and a staple after-school hangout spot for younger students. However, in the early to mid- 1980s, dagashiya stores began to diversify their products or were replaced by convenience stores. As of 2016, dagashi can still be found in the occasional dagashiya or ordered online. Culture expos in Japan (especially for schools) sometimes include dagashi and dagashiya displays.
Types
The variety of dagashi that can be bought include hard candy, gum, chocolates, cakes, and certain types of pastries, like donuts. While it can refer to sweet candy, dagashi also includes snacks such as juice powders and flavorings, potato and corn snacks, small cups of ramen, rice crackers, flavored squid, and preserved fruit. Considered somewhat unhealthy and sometimes low-quality, dagashi are often packaged with a heavy amount of artificial flavoring and preservatives.
Dagashiya
Dagashiya are the traditional stores that sell dagashi. Besides dagashi, dagashiya often sell other treats or small toys and may have coin-operated or arcade-style games. After school, children often stopped by a dagashiya to purchase the cheap snacks and socialize with each other and the shop owners. Though in decline due to convenience stores, dagashiya can still be found in Japan, with around 50 in the Tokyo area.
List of Dagashi
(This list is not comprehensive.)