Sagamiya

  
Historic Japanese confectionery
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522 S Main St   International District 

-closed in 1978      


Around 1900 Unosuke and Take Shibata opened a Japanese confectionery in the Seattle neighborhood known as Japantown.  Named after the Shibata's home region, Sagamiya specialized in traditional rice-based treats like senbei, a crisp, light cracker, and mochi, a dough made from sticky rice that could be shaped or flavored in many ways.  In 1909 their mochi won an award at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition.  

small komochi rice cakes

When the widowed Take Shibata decided to retire and return to Japan, she adopted her nephew Nobujiro and left Sagamiya in his care.  Nobujiro graduated from Garfield High School and in 1933 married Ayako, a young woman raised on Bainbridge Island but educated in Japan.

Although there were other Japanese confectioners nearby, Sagamiya became a particular hub of neighborhood activity.  In partnership with Nobujiro's cousins, the Asabas, Sagamiya expanded to offer stationery, books, and magazines.  The shop also boasted a soda fountain, and made its huge glass display window available for showing off trophies such as the season's largest salmon or matsutake mushroom.  

During World War II, most of the Shibata-Asaba family and many of their customers were incarcerated and the business was shuttered.  Despite the interruption, Sagamiya was able to reopen by 1945.  Things went well until the late 1960s, when Nobujiro and his Asaba cousins all passed away within a short period of time.  Widowed Ayako struggled to keep up with the demanding business but eventually decided to close in 1978. 

tin of senbei rice crackers

Shortly after Sagamiya closed its doors, the building was torn down and replaced by the new Imperial House, but traces of the old confectionery can still be found throughout the area.  Many of the shop's signs and tools were donated to the Museum of History and Industry and sometimes appear in exhibitions.  Small souvenirs appear in other collections, like the senbei tin on display at Higo, Japantown's historic variety store.  Framed pictures of Sagamiya and its owners hang on the walls of the Panama Hotel Tea and Coffee House, whose owner Jan Johnson also commemorates the shop through her dedication to offering Japanese confections.  

And of course Sagamiya survives in the memories of its many fans.  Art Oki was a frequent customer who went on to start the Umai-do Japanese confectionery; Oki says one of the best compliments he can get is to hear that his products compare with Sagamiya's.