🍱 Azuki-zoni

There is a zoni in which rice cakes are put into azuki beans simmered for a little less sweetness. On New Year's Day, people eat "Sumashi-zoni" with iwanori seaweed in it, and in some areas they start eating "Azuki-zoni" on January 2. There is a tradition of using round rice cakes. This zoni is characterized by its light sweetness in comparison to “Zenzai” or “Oshiruko” (sweet azuki bean soup), although it looks similar in appearance to them. The tenth month of the old calendar in the Izumo region is the month of Kamiari-zuki, when the gods gather from all over the country. “Azuki-zoni” was served as "Jinzai-mochi” during the "Kamiari-sai" ritual held during this period. It is said that "Jinzai-mochi” is the origin of the word "Zenzai".