OSAKA — Amid soaring gold prices, solid-gold versions of the long-selling candy “Ogontoh” (gold sugar) are drawing crowds at the Okashi Museum Tenpozan in Osaka’s Minato Ward.
Ogontoh candy is seen in the city of Osaka’s Kita Ward on Aug. 1, 2024. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)
One of the gold bars, each identical in shape to the translucent golden sweet and weighing about 57 grams, is being sold by lottery for 1 million yen (approx. $6,500) including tax per month through March. More than 30,000 people have applied so far, eager for the chance to buy gold well below its market price.
The candy Ogontoh was created in 1923 and is known for its amber color and slightly tapered rectangular shape. To mark the brand’s 100th anniversary, manufacturer Ogontoh Co., based in Osaka’s Sumiyoshi Ward, produced the pure-gold replicas in 2023.
The museum, operated by confectionery wholesaler Yoshiya Co. of Settsu, Osaka Prefecture, purchased one of the gold bars for display and decided to sell one each month from January to March through visitor lotteries. At the record retail gold price of 30,248 yen (around $197) per gram on Jan. 29, the bar’s metal value alone amounts to about 1.72 million yen (approx. $11,200). Although the price has since fallen, buyers can still acquire gold at a steep discount.
A solid gold replica of an Ogontoh candy is pictured at the Okashi Museum Tenpozan in the city of Osaka’s Minato Ward, along with a certificate of authenticity. Each gold replica weighs 57 grams. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)
Applications are accepted inside the museum, where families of infants to adults have entered the lottery together. One visitor reportedly said, “If I win, I’ll find a way to raise the 1 million yen.” Lotteries are held once a month, with entries continuing through March.
The museum opened in December 2025 and features exhibits continuing the legacy of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo as well as a gift area selling sweets from around Japan. It is open year-round from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (last admission 7 p.m.). For inquiries, call 06-6576-0077 (in Japanese).
(Japanese original by Satoko Suizu, Osaka Editorial Production Center)
AloJapan.com