A new attempt at Japanese fusion Tops is associated with chocolate, walnuts, and...monaka? Tops] "TEZUKURI MONACA" exclusively for Isetan Shinjuku to go on sale on June 10

TOPS Corporation (Headquarters: Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Eiji Hakozaki) will release a limited edition product "TOPS HITOTSUGI Tezukuri MONACA" at TOPS Isetan Shinjuku Store on June 10, 2025 (Tuesday). The "HITOTSUGI HITOTSUGI MONACA" will be on sale at the Isetan Shinjuku store on June 10, 2013, and will be available only at the Isetan Shinjuku store.

About "Handmade MONACA

Inspired by the chocolate cake that is synonymous with TOPS, "TOPS HITOTSUGI TEZUKURI MONACA," a blend of Japanese and Western sweets, will be available exclusively at TOPS Isetan Shinjuku Store. This "Tops' first sweets kit" includes a jar of two kinds of cream with walnuts (chocolate and milk flavors) and a box of monaka skin, which customers sandwiches the cream with the monaka skin by themselves. The mild chocolate cream reminds one of chocolate cake, while the milk cream stands out for its gentle sweetness of milk. Both creams are accented with walnuts, which give the cream a crunchy texture. The crispy, savory skin of the "monaka" cake is sandwiched between the two creams to create "Tops' first fusion of Western and Japanese sweets. Another key point is that it is completely additive-free and made with simple ingredients.

Since the product is sold exclusively at the Tops Isetan Shinjuku store, the packaging features Isetan's original tartan check "Macmillan/Icetan" on the top of the lid and the Tops logo in the center, making it instantly recognizable as an Isetan exclusive. The bottom of the box is also decorated with the tartan check, creating a small surprise when the contents are removed.

Overall image of MONACA

Image of MONACA ingredients

Chocolate cream

Milk cream

How "handmade MONACA" was created: The first "first": a fusion of Western and Japanese flavors.

Product development began with the desire of the store manager and product development staff to "create a confectionary that is unprecedented, but still conveys Tops' unique flavor. Since chocolate cake is the most famous cake at Tops, we decided to add Japanese elements to the cake to take advantage of the chocolate and walnuts while taking on a new challenge. Various Japanese sweets, such as dorayaki and okaki, were considered, but it was the crispy and savory "monaka" that won the hearts of all those in charge of the project. The strong aroma and texture of the rice was a perfect match for the cream and walnuts, complementing each other even more.

MONACA image

The fun of making it yourself: the second "first" "sweets kit

Another new challenge is that this is the first "sweets kit" for Tops products.

The staff in charge of the product wanted to "provide not only a delicious taste, but also the experience of enjoying eating the product," so they made it possible for customers to experience the process of sandwiching cream onto the skin by themselves. This allows visitors to enjoy the product in a variety of ways, such as "sandwiching the desired amount of cream," "mixing two types of cream in the desired balance," or "combining cream with other ingredients instead of sandwiches in the middle.

The two types of cream can also be purchased separately.

*Selling price: 1,296 yen per piece (tax included)

Sandwiching cream

From the person in charge of product development: "I also recommend this way of eating!

We asked one of the people in charge of product development about drinks that go well with "Tezukuri MONACA" and recommended ways to eat it.

He replied, "The drinks that go well with it are coffee, tea, and milk. I personally recommend the interesting way of eating the cream alone while drinking a strong espresso. You can eat the cream on a plate with a teaspoon or dissolve it in espresso.... The sweetness of the cream is refreshed by the bitterness of the espresso. Or, it is also delicious with dried fruits that go well with nuts, and served on crackers or bread."

■Product Outline

Product name ： TOPS HITOTSUGI Tezukuri MONACA

Price ： 3,500 yen (excluding tax) / 3,780 yen (including tax)

Ingredients ：《Chocolate cream》Milk (raw milk (domestic)), sugar, walnuts,

　　　　　　Sugar, cream, walnuts, water syrup, cocoa mass, water syrup,

　　　　　　Milk Cream》Milk cream, sugar, cream, walnuts, syrup /《Monaka》Mochi rice (made in Japan)

Specified Ingredients: 《Chocolate Cream》dairy ingredients, walnuts / 《Milk Cream》dairy ingredients, walnuts,

　　　　　　Walnuts

Quantity : 《Chocolate Cream》 120g / 《Milk Cream》 120g /

　　　　　　8 bags of "Monaka" (2 pieces per bag)

Release Date ：June 10, 2025 (Tuesday)

Available at: Tops Isetan Shinjuku Store *Also available at Isetan Mitsukoshi's online store

Two kinds of cream and skin of "monaka

Company Profile

Company name: TOPS Co.

Eiji Hakozaki, Representative Director

Established] November 1964

Establishment] July 1972

Capital: 24.53 million yen

Head Office: Tokai Akasaka Bldg. 7F, 3-16-11 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Business description: Manufacture and sale of confectionery, operation of light-drinking establishments, etc.

URL] https://www.akasaka-tops.co.jp

Signature product: Chocolate cake

Our signature chocolate cake (size R). Wishing for the happiness of customers, it is decorated with a grape pattern, which means "good harvest.

■About Tops

Tops was established in 1964 as an American restaurant in the former TBS Hall in Akasaka. Its signature product, chocolate cake, was offered as a dessert at the time. Due to its popularity, there were many requests for take-outs, so the company began selling them. Later, it developed into a specialty cake store. In September 2024, the 60th anniversary of the company's founding, Tops was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TOKYO PRO Market), and as of June 2025, the company operates 58 stores nationwide (including 35 directly managed stores mainly in the Kanto region).

Inside the first Tops store

Tops TBS Kaikan store, which has not long been in business. It features American-style counter seating and red gingham-check tablecloths.