114-Year-Old Japanese Producer Of Famed Sakuma’s Drops Candy Closing Down Due To Pandemic
The company reportedly suffered a net loss of S$1.46mil last year.
Closure after 114 years in business
Founded in 1908, Sakumaseika had weathered through major historical events like World War II, which damaged its factories in Japan and China. Despite the ongoing war and risky air raids, it continued to produce its goods.
But the Tokyo-based company has announced that it will shut down next year on Jan 20, reportedly due to dismal sales brought about by the pandemic and rising operational costs. It had also hesitated to raise the price of its candy, due to a general Japanese market fear of losing customers.
A Sakumaseika spokesperson tells The Japan Times that the company had been struggling with raw material and energy costs, as well as challenges in hiring manpower. It suffered a net loss of ¥152mil (S$1.46mil) in its fiscal year that ended last September.
The sweets became so iconic after the film’s release that the company released special Fireflies-themed tins for the candy (though some netizens have since confessed that they could not enjoy the drops without crying).
But you can still buy a rival version of Sakuma’s Drops
While Sakumaseika is closing for good, it appears that Sakuma’s Drops will still live on. Its rival Sakuma Confectionery Co., which was founded by management that split from the original company, is very much active. It also makes a version of the hard candy, which is packaged in a green tin instead of red.
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