Nachiguro is a traditional Japanese black candy produced and sold by Nachiguro Sohonpo Co., Ltd., a confectionery company based in Taiji Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture.
Long enjoyed as a souvenir from the Kumano region, Nachiguro is widely available not only throughout Wakayama but also at major travel hubs such as Shin-Osaka Station and Kansai International Airport.
For generations, it has been especially popular as a souvenir for visitors traveling to Kumano and Mount Koya, where it offers a simple taste of the traditional confectionery culture of Kishu, the historic name for the Wakayama region.
Nachiguro Sohonpo was founded in 1877. For more than a century, the company has specialized in making black candy while preserving its traditional production methods and distinctive flavor.
During World War II, the candy was designated by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry as a preserved traditional confectionery, reflecting the high regard in which the product was held.
From the Showa period through the Heisei period, Nachiguro became even more widely known through television advertising. It eventually became so closely associated with black candy in Japan that the phrase “When you think of black candy, think Nachiguro” became familiar to many consumers.
Today, it is also recognized as a recommended quality souvenir product of Wakayama Prefecture and remains one of the signature traditional sweets of the Kishu region.
One of Nachiguro’s most distinctive characteristics is its smooth, rounded black appearance, which is inspired by Nachi Kuroishi, the famous black stone found in the Kumano region.
Nachi Kuroishi has traditionally been used to make black go stones for the Japanese board game Go. Its deep black color and polished, glossy appearance inspired the shape and appearance of Kuroame Nachiguro.
The surface of each candy is engraved with the characters “Nachi” and “Guro”, adding a playful local touch to the traditional sweet.
Because the candy is affordable, compact, and easy to carry, it makes a convenient souvenir for travelers and a popular gift for friends and family.
The distinctive flavor of Kuroame Nachiguro comes largely from its carefully selected Japanese black sugar.
The main ingredient is high-quality black sugar produced on Tokunoshima Island in the Amami Islands. Grown in the region’s warm subtropical climate, the sugarcane produces black sugar with a rich sweetness and deep, complex flavor.
At Nachiguro Sohonpo, the black sugar is carefully cooked directly over a flame by skilled craftsmen. This traditional method has been passed down through generations and is designed to bring out the natural aroma, roasted notes, and gentle sweetness of the black sugar.
The result is a nostalgic flavor that combines a rich sweetness with a pleasant, mellow finish.
Black sugar naturally contains various minerals and other nutrients, and Nachiguro has long been enjoyed as a gentle candy for the throat. It is suitable as a small treat during a journey as well as an everyday snack enjoyed by people of all ages.
The company’s headquarters and factory in Taiji Town also offer visitors the opportunity to see how Nachiguro is made.
Visitors can observe the traditional process of cooking the black candy directly over a flame and learn more about the craftsmanship behind this long-established local confectionery.
The factory also has a showroom where visitors can purchase a variety of products, including Kuroame Nachiguro, black sugar yokan, karinto traditional fried sweets, and tuna-flavored rice crackers.
For travelers exploring southern Wakayama and the Kumano region, stopping at the factory provides an opportunity to discover a local taste while learning about one of Taiji’s traditional industries.
Factory tours are available by reservation, with tour times offered in both the morning and afternoon.
Visitors can learn about the traditional techniques used to produce Nachiguro and, depending on the experience offered at the time of their visit, enjoy freshly made products as well.
Nachiguro is more than simply a piece of candy. Its history, shape, ingredients, and production methods all connect it with the culture and natural resources of the Kumano region.
The deep black color inspired by Nachi Kuroishi, the rich sweetness of Tokunoshima black sugar, and the traditional craftsmanship preserved by Nachiguro Sohonpo have created a distinctive local confectionery that has been enjoyed for generations.
For visitors to Nanki-Kumano and Taiji, trying Kuroame Nachiguro is an easy and delicious way to experience a small part of the region’s traditional culture.
Whether enjoyed during a journey or taken home as a souvenir, this simple black candy offers a taste of the history and craftsmanship of Kishu.
When exploring the Kumano region, be sure to try Nachiguro and discover the traditional flavor of Wakayama for yourself.