Beans: Versatile, Practical, and Cultural

Overview

Beans are a beloved food eaten every day in Kyoto, but they are also a sacred legume used in imperial rites. Soybeans arrived in Japan along with Buddhism in the 6th century and were a mainstay in the vegetarian cuisine of monks. Adzuki beans, brought back from China by the famed monk Kukai in the 9th century, are used in auspicious foods to ward off misfortune. Discover how beans are more than mere cooking ingredients in the ancient capital, where they play a vital role in rituals and customs.