This pattern is beginner-friendly and easy to make. It consists of 3 parts that are stitched together: an oblong shaped red bean filling, oblong shaped pink mochi and green sakura leaf.

Two parts are worked in the round: the red bean filling is an oblong shaped tube that is stuffed, and the pink mochi is a flat oblong. The 3rd part, the sakura leaf, is worked in rows. The sakura leaf is a crochet leaf that can also be used on its own or in other crochet projects that require crochet leaves.

The amigurumi measures about 5.5cm at its longest point, 4cm at its widest, and 4cm at its highest. But the finished size can vary depending on hook size, yarn weight and crochet tension.

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

©All Rights Reserved. Unless stated otherwise, the content and images are mine. Please do not sell, copy or distribute them without my express consent. Sharing of the pattern is welcomed. To share the pattern, please link to the pattern post and include my Instagram profile @yotsuba_blythes with proper attribution. Sale of limited quantities of the finished items made from this pattern is permitted and please include my Instagram profile as attribution for the pattern.