sweet red-bean soup（Oshiruko)
Koshi-an (sweet red bean paste) or grains of red bean paste is boiled in water and sugar is added to make a soup. It is served with rice cakes or dumplings, etc., and is often accompanied by pickled shiso seeds or salted kelp to refresh the taste buds. In the Kanto region, oshiruko is called oshiruko for all soups made with azuki red bean paste, and in particular, those made with granulated red bean paste are called ika-jiruko, while those with koshi-an (sweetened red bean paste) are called gozen-jiruko. On the other hand, in Kansai, oshiruko is made with koshi-an (sweet red bean paste) and zenzai is made with tsubu-an (sweet red bean paste). In the Kanto region, “zenzai” refers to a sweet red bean paste with a small amount of juice poured over mochi or shiratama (white rice balls).
