Japanese candy makers sculpt sweet creations

Master sweet maker Senji Domon teaches apprentices how to make works of art with bean paste, rice powder and sugar

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) -- Candy making in Japan is more than just satisfying a sweet tooth; it's an art form.

Master sweet makers can make delicate flowers, bonsai trees and birds that look as if they belong in a garden.

Made of bean paste, rice powder and sugar, each sculpture takes at least three weeks to complete, depending on the design.

If stored in a cool, dry place, one of them can last for months.

The sweets would make expensive snacks -- some cost nearly $4,000

Candy art began more than 100 years ago, when sweet makers wanting to attract more customers crafted candy flowers as window decorations.

Today, those candy sculptures are still luring anyone with an eye for art and a sweet tooth.

But the creations would make quite an expensive snack, costing almost $4,000.

"Regular sweets taste good and are attractive to look at, but candy sculptures aren't for eating," says Senji Domon, who has been creating candy sculptures for 30 years. "All the effort is put into making the sculpture look good."

Reutersand CNN's Denise Dillon contributed to this report.

For more STYLE news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about STYLE

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.