Historical background

 Babahera is a term used to refer to elderly women of local farmers  (Baba) who sell ice cream on the streets using a spatula (hera). Local students began to call them “Babahera” in the 1970s. Kodama-Reika, an ice cream company, began producing and selling ice cream in 1948. They later provided ice cream to Shindo-Reika and Sugishige-Reika, which were sold together. The first ice candy was square or snowman-shaped and sold on a bicycle. In 1954, they began putting ice cream in corn and selling it at festivals and sports events in Akita. As the number of festival shops increased, they started selling ice cream on the streets. Elderly women often engage in this work because they can earn money without leaving their homes.

Further historical background

 Shindo, a representative of Sindo-Reika, an ice cream company, stated that Babahera was initially sold in Oga City, Akita. Due to the high cost of strawberries and bananas, Babahera was flavored to imitate those tastes. 

 My great-grandmother used to sell Babahera in Oga. She passed away a few years ago so I interviewed my mother, who was also born in Oga, about her memories of her grandmother and Babahera. When asked what the motivation was for great-grandmother to start selling Babahera as her job, she answered: "The Babahera company was in Oga and my grandmother was invited by her friend to sell Babahera, so she started doing so. She used to take Babahera to various places every day during the summer.” When asked about her memory of her grandmother with Babahera, she said: “When my grandmother sold Babahera near my house or shops she often visited, she called me and invited me … When eating Babahera, I feel nostalgic because I often had that in childhood.” When asked how you introduce Babahera to people from other places, she said “Babahera is sherbet with two colors. The taste is refreshing and delicious” It can be said that Babahera is a type of soul food for the Akita people. (A Story from one of the Akita International University students).

Where to purchase

 You can find Babahera stands on the streets in summer. In addition, if you visit festivals or events in Akita, you might find Babahera stands as well. In winter, you can still buy Babahera ice candy or Babahera cups in some supermarkets and souvenir stores in Akita station. They are not real Babahera but the taste is good. In the online shops that each company has, you can find Babahera sets or various types of Babahera. Please check it out!

• On streets (only in summer)

• Akita station (Topico)

• Supermarkets (Aeon mall)

• Online

  1. http://www.kodama.in.arena.ne.jp/

  2. https://babahera.net/