New Taiwan Cake Shop Introduction
In 2014, the film KANO achieved a remarkable box office revenue of 340 million NTD. In the same year, Lu Ya-Ling, who worked as a Japanese translator at a photovoltaic industry company in Zhubei, ended her decades-long career abroad and returned to Chiayi City to help her elderly father run the family store. The New Taiwan Cake Shop can trace its origins back to the Japanese colonial period in 1901, when it was operated by Yoshida Shuutarou under the name “Hinata-ya.” At that time, it was designated as a supplier of snacks for the Japanese crown prince during his visits to Taiwan, and the lovely figure of Hinata-ya was recreated in the film KANO. After the end of Japanese rule, Lu Fu took over and officially renamed the shop “New Taiwan Cake Shop.” He specially invited Japanese traditional sweets master Shinmi Koichi to guide the shop, with the aim of recreating the snacks of Hinata-ya, including Shinamiki yokan, Japanese steamed buns, and snow cakes. Each item carries the dedication and skill of Japanese artisans and tells the historical story of Hinata-ya. The current New Taiwan Cake Shop is managed by Lu Fu’s second generation, Lu Kun-Chang, the father of Ya-Ling, who continues to uphold Lu Fu's spirit of “staying true to the original flavor and following nature.” They offer traditional mochi made without preservatives and with rich fillings, allowing customers to enjoy three kinds of fillings: red bean, peanut, and sesame. They have also modernized traditional pastries into exquisite gifts to cater to contemporary eating and consumption habits. Now, anyone can visit the New Taiwan Cake Shop at any time, not just during specific festive occasions, to take home a pastry rich in historical flavors. Since its establishment in 1946, New Taiwan Cake Shop has witnessed 71 years of Taiwan’s historical changes. No matter how the external environment changes, the unchanging spirit of supporting each other and working together among family members remains. This unwavering emotion towards flour, home, and Chiayi City is also passed on from Lu Kun-Chang to his daughter Lu Ya-Ling, continuing to warm up the area next to the Fountain Roundabout. Recommended dishes: Traditional mochi, snow cake.
