Sweet kudzu - Azura

Japanese: 甘葛 - あまずら

〘Noun〙① A type of vine that grows deep in the mountains. Also a sweetener extracted from it. The juice is collected from the cut end in autumn or winter. Tributes from various provinces appear in the Engishiki. Old name: Toki. Misen . Amazu rasen. [Wamyosho, Ten Volumes ( around 934)] *Makura (end of the 10th century) 42 " Amazu is added to shaved ice and placed in a new metal pot." ② One of the ingredients in incense . ① is boiled down to increase viscosity in order to mix in the flavorings. Amazu rasen. *Kunshu Ruisho ( around 1165) Vol. 2 "Honey is delicious, but sometimes insects appear. Amazu is good."

Ama-Kazura ...Kazura [Sweet Kudzu]

〘Name〙 Another name for the plant "amachazuru (sweet tea vine)". ※Myoichihon kana-gaki Hokekyo (Kamakura) Volume 3 "In the secluded area of mountains, rivers, and steep valleys, there grow medicinal plants, large and small trees, various kinds of grain seedlings, and sugar cane ( 〈Note〉Amakatsura)."

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 深山に生える、つる草の一種。また、それから採った甘味料。秋か冬に、切り口から液汁を採取する。「延喜式」に諸国からの貢進が見えている。古名、ととき。味煎(みせん)。甘葛煎(あまずらせん)。〔十巻本和名抄（934頃）〕※枕（１０Ｃ終）四二「削り氷(ひ)にあまづら入れて、あたらしき金鋺(かなまり)に入れたる」② 薫物(たきもの)の材料の一つ。香料を練り合わせるために①を煮詰めて粘度を高めたもの。甘葛煎(あまずらせん)。※薫集類抄（1165頃か）下「蜜はかうばしけれど、虫の出で来るときあり。あまづらはよし」