From mochi ice cream to strawberry sandos, Japanese sweet treats are tickling UK tastebuds

The M&S strawberry and cream sandwich is its take on a Japanese convenience store favourite. Photograph: M&S/PA

If you said to a friend that you fancied Japanese food this weekend, they might be forgiven for thinking you meant sushi. But lately a new culinary export from Japan is catching up with fish and rice in the hearts and tastebuds of British foodies.

Soft, sweet and full of character, Japanese-style desserts – from mochi ice cream to matcha cookies – have been steadily gaining ground on UK shelves.