Kanten (Agar) Origin Day
Food DaysWhat Is Kanten Origin Day?
December 27th is "Kanten Origin Day" in Japan, established by the Association for Building the Fushimi Kanten Monument to spread awareness that Fushimi, Kyoto, is the birthplace of kanten (agar-agar). The day was certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2019.
The Accidental Story Behind Kanten's Birth
In the early Edo period, an event that would lead to the birth of kanten took place at an inn called "Minoya" in Fushimi Mikagocho, in what is now Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City.
- How it happened: the innkeeper, Minoya Tarozaemon, threw out leftover tokoroten (a jelly made from seaweed) served during a stay by the lord Shimazu Osuminokami, and the cold weather froze it outdoors
- An accidental dried food: the frozen tokoroten thawed during the day, and after this freeze-and-thaw cycle repeated, it turned into a dried, preserved form
- Its naming: when this dried food was offered to Ingen, the founding priest of Manpuku-ji Temple on Mount Obaku, he recommended it as an ingredient for Buddhist vegetarian cuisine and named it "kanten"
Why December 27th?
Historical records suggest that the tokoroten that became the basis for the first kanten was served to the Shimazu domain in Fushimi around late December, hence the month. The day comes from a pun: "Fushimi" is read as the numbers "2-4-3," and adding 24 and 3 together gives 27.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Try making a dish or dessert using kanten
- Learn about the history of Fushimi, Kyoto, and sites connected to kanten's origin
- Learn about the difference between tokoroten and kanten
- Learn about the priest Ingen and the history of Manpuku-ji Temple
An Accidental Invention, Born From Discarded Tokoroten
Kanten was truly a product of chance -- born when an innkeeper's casually discarded tokoroten happened to freeze in the cold. Let December 27th be a chance to enjoy a familiar kanten dish while reflecting on the surprising story of its birth.