Today January 15th is 〈Jhōgen〉, that is, the last day of the New Year. I think it was after theShōwaera in Tokyo, but the 7th is called "Matsu-osamé the end of the New Year. Even at my house, I removed the pine decoration on the night of the 7th. However, in some regions, according to the old tradition, the 14th is calledJūyokka-Toshikoshi(The crossing the New Year in 14th), and the 15th is the New Year, that is,Jhōgen. And the 15th is called 〈Koshōgatsu(Small New Adzuki shōgatsu(Azuki beans New Year), and each family eatsadzukibean porrige. There was a popular belief that if you store thisadzuki ridge until three days later, warm it and eat it, you will be spared the plague. There was also a belief that if a woman's waist was hit with a willow branch called Adzukizué(a porridge-cane), she would become preg- nant a boy.
Well, It's not based on such traditions and popular beliefs at all, but at my home, my family have always been to eatadzukibeans on this day. However, it is not adzukibean porridge. It isAzuki-shiruko(red bean soup). Today's lunch was made into "Zenzai-shiruko" with the rice cakes which have been stored from the day of New Year. Whether COVID-19 can be exterminated ...
【Haiku】
Asu shinuru inochi medetashi azukigayu
Adzuki porridge that was ordered to die tomorrow, but life auspicious By Kyoshi Takahama
Adzuki porridge Sweetness has also drawn with a little salt 's efforts By Tadami Yamada