🍱 Gimburo Zushi

"Gimburo beans" are a type of black turtle bean which has been grown in households of Nishi-Toyonaga (this village is now a part of Otoyo town) for a long time. This bean is known to be healthy and is often referred to as “beans of longevity”, which is considered good luck. The beans were mostly consumed within the region. When cooked, the skin of the beans become soft and absorbs the flavor of the seasonings. It is said that the beans have the word “gin” (=silver) in its name because of its distinctive black and glossy appearance. “Buro” means immortal in Japanese. Another story behind the name is that around 1750, a person named “Ogin” living in Uemomohara village received the seeds of beans named “Furou” from a traveler and began to grow the beans in the region. “Gimburo Zushi” is a type of sushi with gimburo beans mixed in the rice. Sometimes, the recipe is made without vinegar or made into rice balls.