Sekihan
Ԕ(lit. red rice)
Gulutinous pinkish rice


"Sekihan" is made by steaming sticky rice called "Mochigome "together
with boiled red beans (azuki ) which turn the rice pinkish color.
The rice is first soaked overnight in the liquid from the boiled red beans.
When you steam the rice, the liquid is also used.
Today, we can buy it at Japanese sweets shop (Wagashi-tenaَqX) or supermarkets.

In Japan, people has been considered that color of red (though sekihan is not real red) is a lucky color
because it associates with the color of the sun.
So, "sekihan" is a special dish which served to cerebrate festivals, weddings, birthday, longevity, passing of exam.,
new construction, graduation, entry of school, etc.

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Sprinkle Goma-shio (sesame-salt) or salt a little bit, it becomes tasting slightly sweeter.

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We sometimes put sekihan in "Jubako"(tiered lacquerd box) may happiness pile up.

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Steamed glutinous rice is generally called "Okowa/kowaii"

Added ingredient Name
Red beans Sekihan, Okowa (Speaking "Okowa" it often means
okowa with red beans)
Mountain greens Sansai-Okowa
Chestnuts Kuri-Okowa
Mushrooms Kinoko-Okowa
eel Unagi-Okowa
Sea bream Tai-Okowa/Tai-meshi
The Japanese word for sea bream, tai, sounds similar to
the word "mede-tai"(happy, festive, good luck, auspicious).
The color of sea bream is also red, so it has been thought
fish of felicity and a necessity for dishes for happy events.
etc. -
Nothing Shiramushi