Rooted in The Traditional Japanese Gift-Giving Culture of Omiyage, Kotsu Kotsu Japanese Patisserie & Bake Shop Launches in Kuala Lumpur
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 NOVEMBER, 2025 – Oishii Innovations Group, the team behind some of Kuala Lumpur’s most beloved Japanese dining venues, including Kyomo, minamo, Asumo, Itsumo and Kingyu, is proud to present their latest concept: kotsu kotsu.
After 10 years of operating in Malaysia, the team decided it was time to introduce another truly Japanese concept: the tradition of omiyage, Japan’s souvenir-giving culture. Group General Manager, Kota Furuya says, “In Japan, our airports, train stations and department stores are filled with kiosks selling a countless variety of sweets sold specifically for gifts – this is because when visiting family or friends, or returning from travels, it is customary for us to take our favourite sweets as a gift.”
With kotsu kotsu, they combined this gifting culture with Japanese-style cakes, launching with eight recipes, including the signature kotsu kotsu Roll. Executive Pastry Chef, Rina Fukuda says, “This style of cake is hard to find outside of Japan because it must be eaten on the day it is baked, thus it cannot be taken overseas as a souvenir, as the quality would deteriorate. These cakes are another aspect of Japanese culture that we wanted to share with Malaysians, so kotsu kotsu was born.”
A practising Muslim himself, Executive Pastry Chef Sho Sasaki says he wanted to make Muslim-friendly cakes so that kotsu kotsu’s creations would be inclusive to all. The team spent 11 months developing and honing over 1000 new recipes to create the best representation of the types of cakes found in Japan, made here with halal ingredients. kotsu kotsu “こつこつ”, meaning “step by step”, reflects the overall steady and mindful effort to create and serve the best.
The brand debuts with its flagship creation, the kotsu kotsu Roll, in three flavours: smooth and subtle Classic (red bean); earthy, nutty Kinako (roasted soybean); and bittersweet Matcha (green tea). A selection of whole cakes are sliced to order, including the fluffy and refreshing ten-layer Fruit Cake, rich and intensely-flavoured Pistachio Cake, delicate Soufflé Cheesecake, tea-leaf-infused chiffon cake, silky mousse and moist sponge Chocolate Cake and uniquely layered and stacked roll cake, the kotsu kotsu Tower. In line with its philosophy, kotsu kotsu bakes all cakes fresh, twice a day. With limited quantities available daily, each creation is served at its freshest and finest, and for optimal taste and texture, the team recommends each item be consumed within eight hours.
Serving as a neutral space to taste the cakes, the tasting parlour features textured earthen walls where washi paper diffuses light to create soft warmth, and copper accents add character and quiet depth. Bracket lights crafted by Yasuaki Yoshimoto illuminate the room. The final effect is that of a gallery, where there are no sharp lines, but a space wrapped in gentle curves, evoking the sensation of a delicate sweet dissolving on the tongue. This refined and modern expression of “Wa”– Japanese harmony– was conceptualised by Hiroyuki and Miki Matsunaka of interior firm DESIGN ROOM 702, offering guests a sophisticated place to experience kotsu kotsu cakes.
Behind this artistry lies extreme precision. In the kitchen, the cakes are baked in a Super Backen, a high-performance convection oven engineered for accuracy, consistency and efficiency by Shichiyo Co. Ltd (Japan) – trusted by professional pastry chefs across Japan. At kotsu kotsu, the Super Backen ensures every creation is baked to perfection, delivering authentic Japanese quality in every bite.
Between the kitchen and tasting parlour, chefs Sasaki and Fukuda hold court as they monitor the baking, presentation and cutting. Osaka-based fashion designer Roggikei designed their minimalist uniforms, with the colour white emblematic of the cakes’ purity of ingredients and intention, lending a quiet dignity to the chefs. A four-metre glass display custom-made by a renowned glassmaker in Japan showcases the mouthwatering creations, while pure-white Arita porcelain allows the cakes to stand out, all with the Japanese aesthetic of “Ma”– the beauty of space and simplicity, as a balancing presence. For those embracing the omiyage culture, kotsu kotsu’s wisteria-toned gift boxes come complete with a reusable ice pack to keep the cakes in optimal condition.
Step-by-step, slice-by-slice, kotsu kotsu ushers in a delicious new chapter in Malaysia’s dessert scene.
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