Kuromame (Black Soybean) Day

What Is Kuromame Day?

September 6th is "Kuromame Day" in Japan, celebrating black soybeans. The date comes from a wordplay on "ku(9)-ro(6)-mame" (black bean), and it was established on September 6, 1999, by Kikuchi Foods Industry Co., Ltd., a maker of simmered beans and tsukudani, and is recognized by the Japan Anniversary Association. Founded in 1914, the company has made simmered beans since 1939.

A Lucky Bean Essential to Osechi New Year's Cuisine

Kuromame, also called black soybeans, are well known as an ingredient in osechi, the traditional dishes eaten during Japanese New Year celebrations.

• Origin: a wordplay that directly echoes both the look and sound of "ku(9)-ro(6)-mame" (black bean)
• The company: a simmered-bean maker that in 1980 became the first in the industry to introduce high-temperature, high-pressure cooking and sterilizing equipment, launching lightly sweetened simmered beans
• A symbol of good fortune: the word "mame" also sounds like a term meaning "diligent" or "hardworking," making black soybeans an indispensable lucky food in osechi cuisine

The Secret of the Black Color: Anthocyanin

The black color of the bean's skin comes from anthocyanin, a type of polyphenol. It is said that adding an iron pot or old iron nails when simmering black beans helps the pigment bind with iron, giving the beans a glossy black finish.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Enjoy sweetly simmered kuromame or black soybean tea
• Try making a dish or sweet using black soybeans
• Look into the nutrients found in black soybeans
• Think of ways to enjoy kuromame outside of New Year's season

A Small Bean Carries a Wish for a Diligent Life

Enjoyed not just at New Year's but throughout the year, kuromame carries wishes for health and hard work. September 6th is a day to rediscover the big appeal packed into this small bean.