Often they're molded--I own a Meiji-era wagashi mold, though I've never used it--but these were hand-shaped. As the confectioner was chatting, she was also making wagashi one of those chrysanthemum wagashi. After hand-forming the nerikiri into a ball, she took a tiny pair of scissors and then snipped little flaps off and lifted them up to form the petals.

The picture is from the second time I visited the wagashi stand, and the first time I went much of the right part was empty, so I think she just spent all day making them. Sadly, the exhibition rules prevented her from selling them or giving out samples, otherwise I would definitely have bought some.