Amezaiku

Amezaiku artists also paint their sculpted candy with edible dyes to give the finished work more character.

During the Heian period, the art of amezaiku was used in Japan for candy offerings made at temples in Kyoto.

[1] The amezaiku craft spread beyond the temple during the Edo period, when many forms of street performance flourished in Japan[2] and when its base ingredient, mizuame, became widely available.

[4][5] The candy base is prepared beforehand, using a starchy syrup recipe that requires careful monitoring to ensure proper consistency and appearance.

The hot candy is quickly rolled and mounted on a stick, then pulled, twisted and clipped into form, usually an animal of some kind and often intricate.