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Taiyaki (鯛焼き) literally "baked sea bream," is a Japanese fish-shaped cake. The most common filling is red bean paste that is made from sweetened azuki beans. Other common fillings are custard, chocolate, and cheese. Some shops even sell taiyaki with okonomiyaki or a sausage inside.

Taiyaki is made using taiyaki or regular pancake or waffle batter. The batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold for each side. The filling is then put on one side and the mold is closed. It is then cooked on both sides until golden brown.

Taiyaki can be found all over Japan in a food court or especially at a matsuri (祭), or Japanese festival.

This is similar to obanyaki (大判焼き), which is a thick round cake also filled with sweet azuki bean paste or custard.

In Korea taiyaki is called bungeoppang.

Trivia

Taiyaki was the theme of a 1975-76 Japanese hit single, "Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun" ("Swim! Taiyaki") sung by Masato Shimon. The single sold more than 4.5 million copies, and remains the largest-selling Japanese single to this day (as of May, 2006). Originally written for a children's TV program, the song was about a Taiyaki escaping from the vendor stand into the sea, enjoying his brief freedom there until he is finally fished by a man and consumed. It was a thinly veiled satire of the overworked Japanese businessman, with whom the record struck a chord, resulting in the unexpected mega-hit.

See also

• Bungeobbang
• Obanyaki
• Cuisine of Japan
• Wagashi

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