Wagashi is the term for traditional Japanese sweets, but even traditional sweets can get a modern day makeover, sometimes inspired by famous characters from various games and other media. This popular wagashi and game character mash-up comes courtesy of sweets maker Tsuruya Yoshinobu and beloved Nintendo protagonist Kirby.

The sweet chosen for this collaboration is monaka. This traditional Japanese treat consists of two mochi wafers which sandwich adzuki bean paste inside, a treat which perfectly matches with green tea. With such a simple but tasty set-up, these wagashi are perfect for DIY sets that allow you to put the ingredients together yourself.

Sweet makers Tsuruya Yoshinobu have been in business for over 200 years since 1803, and for their awesome game character-inspired treats, they chose the adorably round and pink hero Kirby, whose soft edges lend themselves well to the circular wafers. These popular sets took on a spring theme earlier this year, and now they have returned with an autumn specific offering.

The kits encompass everything you need, including filling. There’s classic red bean paste, and even a tin of chestnut red bean paste for a fall twist. But of course, since it's a DIY set, you can customise it with any filling you want.

The Kirby-faced mochi wafers come in a tin with three different cute facial expressions to choose from. The red bean paste comes in a tin with a resealable lid so you can break out the monaka again and again for any occasion.

Adventurous sweet lovers may also want to put their newfound wagashi skills to more elaborate desserts, and use these adorable wafers to decorate other creations such as parfaits.

The sets would make a great gift for any Kirby fan, as they come in beautifully designed packaging which incorporates autumn-inspired Japanese art with the beloved Nintendo character.

These cute and creative sweet sets can be found on Tsuruya Yoshinobu's online store from 15th October to 30th November, and they are currently accepting pre-orders.