🍲 Gojiru miso soup

Around the anniversary of founder Shinran's death (November 28th under the lunar calendar and January 16th under the solar calendar), from fall to the New Year, the biggest event of the year for all sects of Jodo Shinshu True Pure Land School of Buddhism is held. The event is called "Hoonko memorial services for the sect founder." In Fukui Prefecture, it is called "Honkosan" or "Oko(u)sama." Gojiru is one of the vegetarian dishes served to people who gather at the Hoonko memorial services for the sect founder. Gojiru is a hot miso soup full of fluffy, mashed, full-flavored soybeans and full of rich protein and nutrients. Soak the soybeans in water overnight. The mashed soybeans are called "go" (there are many explanations for the word's origin). Mashed soybeans dissolved in miso soup is called "gojiru miso soup." There are all sorts of ingredients and ways of making the soup depending on the region and the individual households. In some recipes, one mashes rehydrated soybeans. In others, one mashes cooked beans. In still others, one uses bean flour made from drying and grinding soybeans. Gojiru is also called "go" and, in the Okuetsu region, "hikishiru."