"Dagashi Kashi" centers around Kokonotsu Shikada, a high school student and aspiring manga artist, who lives in a rural town where his family runs a small dagashi (cheap snacks and candies) shop. Kokonotsu has little interest in taking over the family business, preferring to focus on his dream of becoming a manga creator. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when Hotaru Shidare, the eccentric and energetic heir to the Shidare Corporation—a major dagashi manufacturer—arrives in town. Hotaru is determined to recruit Kokonotsu’s father, Yō Shikada, a renowned dagashi expert, to join her family’s company. When Yō refuses unless Hotaru can convince Kokonotsu to take over the family shop, she sets out to win him over.

The series unfolds as a slice-of-life comedy, with Hotaru frequently visiting the Shikada shop and introducing Kokonotsu and his friends to various dagashi, often sharing trivia and anecdotes about their history and cultural significance. Kokonotsu’s childhood friend, Saya Endō, who harbors feelings for him, and his classmate, Tō Endō, Saya’s older brother, also play significant roles in the story. Saya often competes with Hotaru for Kokonotsu’s attention, adding a lighthearted romantic tension to the narrative.

Throughout the series, the interactions between the characters are driven by their shared experiences with dagashi, which serve as a backdrop for comedic and occasionally heartfelt moments. The show balances humor with educational elements, as it delves into the nostalgic and cultural aspects of Japanese dagashi. While the overarching plot revolves around Hotaru’s mission to recruit Yō, the episodic nature of the series focuses more on the characters’ daily lives and their growing relationships, rather than a tightly structured storyline. The blend of comedy, romance, and cultural exploration makes "Dagashi Kashi" a unique and engaging series centered around the simple yet fascinating world of traditional Japanese snacks.