Azuki beans (English name: Phaseolus angularis)

Japanese: アズキ(小豆) - アズキ（英語表記）Phaseolus angularis

A cultivated plant of the Phaseolus genus of the legume family. It is said to be native to mainland China and Japan. Its cultivation has a very long history. It is an annual plant that grows to a height of 40-60 cm and has alternate compound leaves consisting of three leaflets. It produces pale yellow, butterfly-shaped flowers that produce elongated, cylindrical pods 5-10 cm long after the flowers bloom. Inside the pods are several oval, shiny, reddish purple seeds (known as azuki beans). There are many cultivated varieties, and the seeds vary in shape, size, and color. Along with the cowpea Vigna sinensis, which is a different genus, it is in high demand for sweets, especially for sweet bean paste. The main varieties are Dainagon and Shiroazuki. It has also been used since ancient times to dye food red, and is eaten on auspicious occasions, such as azuki bean porridge for the Little New Year and Daishi-ko, and azuki bean rice for holidays and Shinto festivals. It is also sometimes eaten after returning from a bad event, such as a funeral.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

マメ科インゲン属の栽培植物。中国大陸と日本の原産とされる。栽培の歴史はきわめて古い。一年草で高さ 40～60cmとなり，3小葉から成る複葉を互生する。花は淡黄色の蝶形花で，花後に長さ5～10cmの細長い円筒形の莢をつける。中に楕円形で光沢のある紅紫色の種子 (いわゆる小豆) が数個ある。栽培品種が非常に多く，種子の形，大きさ，色などもさまざまである。別属のササゲ Vigna sinensisとともに菓子用，特にあん用に需要が多い。おもな品種として大納言，白小豆などがある。また，昔から食物を赤く染めるのに用いられ，小正月や大師講の小豆粥，祝日や神祭りの小豆飯などのように吉事に食される。また野辺送りなど凶事から帰ったあと食される場合もある。

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