Fukujinzuke Day (Fukujinzuke no Hi)

What Is Fukujinzuke Day?

July 29 is "Fukujinzuke Day" each year, established by the pickle maker Shinshin Co., Ltd. The date is a wordplay on the "Seven Lucky Gods" (Shichi-Fukujin), from which fukujinzuke (a Japanese pickled relish) takes its name: 7, 2, 9 can be read as "shi-chi (7) fu (2) ku (9)," or "shichifuku." The company hopes people will eat fukujinzuke, the classic companion to Japanese curry, to beat the summer heat.

The History Behind Ueno's Shuetsu

Fukujinzuke is a pickle born in Tokyo during the Meiji era.

• A Meiji-era innovation: Fukujinzuke is said to have been created around the 1880s by Seiemon Noda, the 15th-generation head of a pickle shop in Ikenohata, Ueno, Tokyo (the forerunner of today's "Shuetsu"). Its chopped vegetables pickled in a sweet-and-savory soy-based liquid became popular as a Tokyo specialty.
• The origin of the name "Fukujin": Because it uses seven kinds of vegetables, the writer Baitei Kinga is said to have named it after the Seven Lucky Gods. One story says the name also meant that "with this pickle alone you need no other side dish, so you can save money."

How Fukujinzuke Came to Accompany Curry

Serving fukujinzuke with curry rice is said to have begun around 1902–1903, at the end of the Meiji era, when it was offered with curry to first-class passengers on Nippon Yusen's European-route ships. The style gradually spread, and fukujinzuke is now firmly established as curry's classic sidekick. Its sweet-savory taste and crunchy texture are loved as a match for spicy curry.

Fun Facts About Fukujinzuke

• The seven vegetables: Typically daikon radish, eggplant, sword beans (natamame), lotus root, gourd (or cucumber), shiso, and turnip (or ginger) — though the vegetables vary by maker and product.
• Red and brown: Much of the fukujinzuke served with curry is red, but there are also brown versions that keep the natural color of soy sauce. Shuetsu's fukujinzuke is brown.
• Sword beans: The crescent-shaped pieces in fukujinzuke are sliced sword-bean pods.
• Another "shichifuku" day: Thanks to the same wordplay, July 29 is also "Seven Lucky Gods Day," established by a rice cracker maker.

Tips for Enjoying Fukujinzuke Day

• Make curry your dinner tonight and serve it with fukujinzuke.
• Compare red and brown fukujinzuke.
• Try to identify the vegetables as you eat, checking the ingredient list on the package.
• Finely chop it and mix it into fried rice or tartar sauce for a touch of sweetness and crunch.

A Day to Enjoy Curry's Best Supporting Actor

July 29 is a day to put the spotlight on fukujinzuke, an essential partner to Japanese curry. Born in Ueno in the Meiji era, this pickle made its way from ship dining rooms to family tables. When the heat dulls your appetite, why not recharge with curry and fukujinzuke?