"Otaru's remaining Monaka skin factory"
Monaka skins are not made by Japanese confectionery shops, but in factories that specialize in the production of skins. Currently, there are three factories in Hokkaido, two of which are in Otaru. In the 1950s, it was said that "monaka skins were profitable," and there were around 10 factories in Otaru. The reason there were so many factories in Otaru was because the rice milling and confectionery industries were thriving there, making materials easy to obtain and in demand. Additionally, there was a factory that manufactured molds for baking monaka skins, so it is thought that the ease of obtaining tools also supported the industry.
