"(Some of the oldest companies, including Ichiwa, cannot definitively trace their history back to their founding, but their timelines are accepted by the govern

"(Some of the oldest companies, including Ichiwa, cannot definitively trace their history back to their founding, but their timelines are accepted by the government, scholars and — in Ichiwa’s case — the competing mochi shop across the street.)" Skeptic that I am, I wanted to see the proof. There isn't any - its just a claim. Its just a sweet story. In fact, I suspect that this is some sort of tourism puff piece, PR of some sort, perhaps by the Japanese tourism board to drum up enthusiasm. Maybe they are planting seeds for when the lockdowns are over.