Case Study
- Dorayaki Machine
- Dorayaki
KAIUNDO Co., Ltd.
Kaiundo is a long-established confectionery company based in Matsumoto City, one of Nagano Prefecture’s leading cultural centers, with a history spanning 142 years.
The business was founded in 1884 by its first-generation proprietor, a former kimono merchant. The second generation, who inherited a deep cultural sensibility including training in the tea ceremony, created the company’s signature sweet, Shinmito, at the end of the Taisho period. Since then, Shinmito has been cherished as a representative confection of Matsumoto for more than a century. In 1959, the third generation expanded the business by opening a Western-style confectionery shop, Paris no Gogatsu, at the main store. To commemorate the company’s 80th anniversary in 1964, Kaiun Oimatsu was introduced. The first branch store, Shofuan, opened in 1984 to mark the company’s 100th anniversary. In 1998, the fourth generation, President Koshiro Watanabe, oversaw the reconstruction of the main store. In 2005, the factory was relocated to the rural Azumino area, where Azumino Kayutei was opened, a shop with an attached café offering panoramic views of Mount Jonen. Around the same time, Managing Director Kyoko Watanabe, the president’s eldest daughter, began leading a redesign of the company’s packaging. Key products such as “Kore wa Umai” and “Nut Roulé” feature artwork by dye artist Samiro Yunoki, who has close ties to Matsumoto. More recently, in 2022, Kaiundo opened kissa Senzu at its flagship store, integrating its Japanese and Western confectionery divisions. The café has developed unique menu items, including coffee and smoothies made with red bean broth, as well as gateaux incorporating Shinmito. Today, the company offers more than 100 products each year, including freshly made Japanese and Western sweets, along with over 30 seasonal limited-edition items.
The family philosophy of “First day every day,” passed down from the previous generation, remains central to the company’s values. Overtime work was abolished in the 1980s, and a two-day weekend was introduced in the 1990s. Kaiundo now employs approximately 80 people, and a harmonious, respectful atmosphere pervades the workplace.
Location：2-2-15 Chuo, Matsumoto-shi, Nagano-ken
Publication：MASDAC news February issue in 2026
Full Automatic Dorayaki Machine（SDR-KAM）
Kaiundo has relied on Masdac’s Full Automatic Dorayaki Machines for more than half a century, ever since its first unit was installed in 1970. The company operates a high-capacity system capable of producing up to 3,200 dorayaki per hour. In November 2025, Kaiundo upgraded from a machine that had been in service for 30 years to Masdac’s latest fourth-generation model. The transition was met with positive feedback, as the new machine was able to produce dorayaki of the same consistent quality immediately after installation. The upgrade was completed without interrupting production, and operators also welcomed the improved operability of the new touch screen control panel. Kaiundo’s dorayaki are made using 100% Nagano Prefecture wheat flour. Larger than standard dorayaki and filled generously with the company’s renowned red bean paste, they are a long-standing favorite among local customers. In addition, Azumino Kayutei, located next to the factory, offers a limited-edition freshly baked dorayaki every Tuesday. Seasonal varieties, such as the Apple Dorayaki filled with Shinshu apple jam, are especially popular with tourists. Looking ahead, Kaiundo is considering the introduction of a Masdac branding machine to further enhance product refinement, with the goal of establishing these dorayaki as an even more sought-after souvenir from Matsumoto.
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A Full Automatic Dorayaki Machine produces Kaiundo’s flagship product, dorayaki.
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Each dorayaki is filled with a generous amount of red bean paste.
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Eight rows of wide copper plates bake large, fluffy dorayaki evenly.
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Tokashi Butter Dorayaki is served at Kaiundo’s flagship café, kissa Senzu. It is particularly popular with male customers, and seasonal varieties such as Dorayaki with Strawberry Sauce are also available.
Reference
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