Japanese are familiar with Ohagi, but many of foreign people might wonder what is Ohagi made with…?
It is a stick rice ball covered with sweet red bean paste. I think this is super vegan healthy food and recommend trying.
Many Japanese eat this Ohagi during Higan in spring and autumn. If you know the reason, you will see the world differently for more fun in Japan life.
Please check for details below☺♪
What is “Higan”?
“Higan” is Japanese traditional seven-day Buddhist ceremony to honor the ancestors during the spring and autumn equinoxes, the days when day and night are almost equally long.
In Buddhism, there is the Sanzu River, separates the land of the living and the land of the dead.
“Higan” means “the other shore” and a metaphor for the world after death. It is believed to be in the far west, while the other side in the east is the world we live.
People thought the sprits of ancestors can cross the Sanzu River on the equinox days because the sun rises from the exact east and sets in the exact west. Believed that the land of the living and the dead will be mostly close, and the spirits of ancestors come back to this world.
Therefore, unique custom to visit ancestors’ graves during Higan period is spread in Japan.
The spring and autumn equinoxes days are national holidays.
During Higan period, it is general that Japanese people visit their family graves to honor the ancestors.
Offer foods, “Ohagi/ Botamochi”
People offer “Ohagi/ Botamochi”, Japanese bean cake, to the Buddha on spring and autumn equinox day.
Ohagi/ Botamochi is made with same ingredient (mainly sticky rice ball covered with sweet red bean past), but those are slightly different for the size and how to make sweet bean.
Ohagi is rather small with rough grinded sweet red bean past for Autumn, named after “Hagi” the Japanese bush clover. Botamochi is rather big with well grinded sweet red bean past for Spring, named after “Botan”, the tree peony.
Why “Ohagi/ Botamochi”?
People offer and eat Ohagi/ Botamochi during Higan because Azuki beans which material of the red bean paste was believed to have power to keep off evil.
Besides, making sweet bean past with expensive sugar are wrapped with sticky rice are considered as our heart and ancestors’ get each other.
Beautiful story behind the “Higan” national holidays. When you have chance to have “Ohagi/Botamochi”, please remember this and sparkle your stay in Japan🌟🌟
Happy day! By Rie’s Kitchen
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