noun
ningyo-yaki; doll-shaped sponge cake with red bean paste
A traditional Japanese confection: small sponge cakes baked in molds, often shaped like dolls or other figures, filled with sweet red bean paste. A specialty of Asakusa, Tokyo.
浅草に行ったら、人形焼をお土産に買った。
When I went to Asakusa, I bought some ningyo-yaki as a souvenir.
人形焼は、あんこが入った小さな焼き菓子です。
Ningyo-yaki are small baked cakes filled with red bean paste.
Taiyaki is a fish-shaped cake, usually larger and crispier, while ningyo-yaki are smaller, doll-shaped, and often sold as souvenir sweets.
Imagawayaki is a round, thick pancake-like cake with red bean paste, whereas ningyo-yaki are molded into various shapes and have a finer, sponge-like texture.
From 人形 (ningyō, 'doll') + 焼き (yaki, 'baked'), referring to the traditional doll-shaped molds used to make these cakes.