Umi no Ko Hoya Boya Sable is a popular local sweet from Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. These crisp sable cookies are filled with a smooth pineapple-flavored cream and decorated with a baked image of Hoya Boya, Kesennuma’s beloved tourism mascot.
Umi no Ko Hoya Boya was created in 2008 as a tourism character for Kesennuma City. The character was designed to promote the city’s rich seafood and food culture.
Hoya Boya has a distinctive appearance inspired by the sea. The character has the head of a hoya (sea squirt), carries a sword shaped like a Pacific saury, and wears a belt inspired by a scallop. These elements represent Kesennuma’s strong connection with the ocean and its abundant seafood.
The pineapple flavor of this sable has a playful connection to its mascot. Hoya, or sea squirt, is sometimes called the “pineapple of the sea” because of its distinctive appearance.
This unusual nickname inspired the idea of filling the cookies with pineapple-flavored cream. The result is a fun souvenir that connects a familiar tropical fruit flavor with one of Kesennuma’s characteristic marine products.
The sable features a light and crispy texture with a generous layer of smooth pineapple cream inside. The cream is blended with plenty of pineapple pieces, giving it a refreshing fruity character.
The sweetness is kept relatively moderate, allowing the fragrant baked cookie and bright pineapple flavor to complement each other. The combination of a crisp exterior and smooth, fruity filling makes the snack easy to enjoy with tea or coffee.
Each cookie features a baked Hoya Boya mark on its surface, making the local character instantly recognizable. The cute design and playful story behind the pineapple flavor give the sweets a distinctly local identity.
For travelers, the sable makes a fun souvenir from Kesennuma and an easy way to share a taste of the city with family and friends. It is also a charming introduction to the region’s seafood culture without requiring visitors to try hoya itself.
Umi no Ko Hoya Boya Sable brings together several symbols of Kesennuma in one small confection. The baked Hoya Boya character represents the city’s maritime identity, while the pineapple cream playfully references the nickname “pineapple of the sea” associated with hoya.
With its crisp sable, smooth pineapple cream, and cheerful local character, this unique sweet is a delightful souvenir for anyone exploring Kesennuma and the Sanriku Coast of Miyagi.