Kidney Bean Day (Ingen Mame no Hi)

What Is Kidney Bean Day?

Every year on April 3rd is "Kidney Bean Day" (Ingen Mame no Hi) in Japan. It marks the anniversary of the death of Ingen Ryuki, a Buddhist monk who came to Japan from Ming China and is credited with bringing kidney beans ("ingen mame," literally "Ingen's beans") to Japan. He died on the 3rd day of the 4th month of Enpo 1 on the old lunar calendar (May 19, 1673, on the Gregorian calendar). Master Ingen was the founder of the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism and introduced many aspects of Chinese culture to Japan besides beans, including a way of preparing and drinking sencha tea and "fucha" cuisine. This day honors his contributions and turns our attention to this familiar legume.

Master Ingen and the History of Food Culture

It's a rare story: a bean named after a high-ranking monk.

• Arrival in Japan and Manpuku-ji: Master Ingen was from Fujian Province in China and arrived in Nagasaki with his disciples in 1654. He was later granted land in Uji, Kyoto, by the shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna, and in 1661 he founded Obakusan Manpuku-ji, named after his temple back home.
• Fucha cuisine: Master Ingen spread "fucha ryori," a style of Chinese vegetarian cuisine. It is known for dishes served on large platters and shared among everyone at the table, and it can still be enjoyed today at Manpuku-ji and elsewhere.
• What "ingen mame" originally referred to: One theory holds that what Master Ingen actually brought was the hyacinth bean (fuji mame). That's why, in the Kansai region, the hyacinth bean is sometimes called "ingen mame."

Kidney Bean Basics

The kidney bean (common bean) is a legume native to Central and South America. It is said to have spread to Europe, then across Eurasia to China, and from there to Japan.

• Eaten as beans and as pods: Ripe beans are used for simmered beans, amanatto candied beans, and white bean paste, while young pods are eaten like a vegetable as "saya ingen" (green beans). Kintoki beans, runner-type shirohana beans, and uzura (pinto-type) beans are relatives of the kidney bean.
• Cook them thoroughly: Dried kidney beans contain a substance (lectin) that can cause food poisoning if not cooked enough. It's important to soak them well and simmer them thoroughly before eating.

Interesting Facts About Kidney Beans

• Things Master Ingen is said to have brought: Besides a method of making and drinking sencha, the mokugyo (wooden fish drum used in Buddhist chanting) is said to have arrived with him. He is also said to have given the name "kanten" to the dried product made by freezing tokoroten, which the world now knows as agar.
• A master calligrapher: Master Ingen was also known for his calligraphy and, together with his disciples Mokuan and Sokuhi, is called one of the "Three Brushes of Obaku."
• "Sando mame" (three-times bean): In the Kansai region and elsewhere, green beans are called "sando mame." The name is said to come from their fast growth, which allows three harvests a year.
• Climbing and bush types: Kidney beans come in climbing varieties that send out long vines and low-growing bush varieties. Bush types are easy to grow even in planters.
• Names around the world: In English, the ripe beans are called "kidney beans" (for their kidney-like shape), and the pods are called "green beans," among other names.

Tips for Marking Kidney Bean Day

• Include kidney bean dishes in your meals, such as green beans with sesame dressing, tempura, or simmered beans
• Learn about Manpuku-ji in Uji, Kyoto, and fucha cuisine to experience the culture Master Ingen brought to Japan
• Taste and compare different relatives of the kidney bean, such as kintoki and shirohana beans
• Try growing bush-type kidney beans in a planter

Culture That Crossed the Sea, in a Single Bean

April 3rd is a day to think about how much one Zen monk who crossed the sea enriched Japanese food culture. Even the kidney beans on our everyday tables carry that history. Today, why not enjoy a kidney bean dish and take a look at the roots of familiar foods?