Kasutera: Japanese Pound Cake that is actually Portuguese (but purchased in Japan)
I just watched a 2016 movie on Netflix called Silence. This is about two 17th century missionaries in Japan. This was not a very easy movie to watch but it did fill me in on a mystery from the 1000 things book. I had previously gone to Mitsuwa Market near Children’s to purchase Kasutera (or Castella). This is a cake, very much like a pound cake. Mimi says it is the most beloved of Japanese deserts but that it is a Portuguese import brought before the Portuguese were banished from Japan in 1639. It is light, airy and would make a great alternative any time a pound cake would fit the bill. Go buy a box and then watch Silence. It makes the Kasutera that much more interesting.
