The 'Ice Cream Grannies' of Akita

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Around tourist spots in Akita Prefecture, middle-aged and elderly women can often be seen selling ice cream under colorful parasols. This is Akita's famous "Babahera" ice cream, a familiar sight to local residents. In this unique regional tradition, even newcomers to the job are in their 70s.

A Veteran Vendor

At a roadside station in Akita City in late May, 85-year-old Tomiko Todo calls out to passersby, offering a refreshing treat. She has worked for over 20 years at Shindo Reika, a long-established local ice cream company.

Her chilled metal container holds two flavors, strawberry and banana. When a customer orders a cone for ¥300 (about $2), she scoops the ice cream little by little with a spatula, carefully shaping it into a flower.

*"Babahera" ice cream is famous for its rose-shaped presentation.*

Children often gather around to watch. She asks them, "Where are you from?" as she continues shaping the ice cream. "I want to keep doing this, so I have to stay healthy," she says with a laugh.

The name "Babahera" is said to come from "baba," an informal term for middle-aged and older women, and "hera," meaning spatula, the tool used to shape the ice cream. The treat is believed to have originated decades ago in Oga City as a roadside ice pop.

Today, several companies manufacture and sell it across the prefecture. The nickname spread before vendors officially adopted it, so its exact origin remains unclear.

From Roadside Stalls to Event Venues

Shindo Reika employs 15 vendors who travel to roadside stations and event venues across the prefecture on weekends from March to October. In the past, the ice cream was often sold along roadsides, but declining traffic and the spread of convenience stores have made that difficult, so vendors now focus on places where people gather.

*People lining up at Tomiko Todo's ice cream stand—May, Akita City.*

Most vendors are in their 70s and 80s, with the oldest being 89. They are an energetic group, and some stand and serve customers all day even when chairs are available. There are no age restrictions for hiring, and a growing number of women in their 70s have been joining to supplement their retirement income.

Shindo Reika also distributes cup ice cream outside the prefecture and sells it online. Even so, company president Hironaga Shindo, 52, believes the interaction with vendors is a big part of the appeal. "I want people to come to Akita and try the real thing," he says.