Core Kyoto
Season 9, Episode 16: Beans: Versatile, Practical, and Cultural
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Beans are a beloved food eaten every day in Kyoto, but they are also a sacred legume used in imperial rites. Soybeans arrived in Japan along with Buddhism in the 6th century and were a mainstay in the vegetarian cuisine of monks. Adzuki beans, brought back from China by the famed monk Kukai in the 9th century, are used in auspicious foods to ward off misfortune. Discover how beans are more than mere cooking ingredients in the ancient capital, where they play a vital role in rituals and customs.
All Episodes - Season 9
Episode 1
Conversations: A Nishijin Textile Producer & An Architect
Episode 2
The Forests of Keihoku: Nature's Blessings Sustain the Ancient Capital
Episode 3
Conversations: The Enduring Pride of Two Venerable Families
Episode 4
Life in a Machiya: The Appreciation of Nature and Time
Episode 5
Tango Chirimen: The Finest Texture in Silk Crepe
Episode 6
Conversations: A Landscape Gardener and a Glass Artist
Episode 7
Okudo-san: Traditional Cooking Stoves
Episode 8
Karakami: Ornamental Paper with Timeless Beauty
Episode 9
Higashiyama Potters: Creativity in Clay Connects the Ages
Episode 10
The World of Moss: Soothing Beauty, Subtle yet Refined
Episode 11
Wire Netting Utensils: Practical, Superbly Handwoven Beauty
Episode 12
Kyoto Breweries: Aromatic Tipples to Suit the Times
Episode 13
Taiko Drums: The Pulsing Heartbeat of Life
Episode 14
Calligraphy for the Times: The Resonating Power of Ink
Episode 15
Tokonoma: Alcoves of Reverence and Welcoming Beauty
Episode 16
Beans: Versatile, Practical, and Cultural
Episode 17
Dramatic Masks: Embodiments of Prayers to the Spirit World