Dear friends,
Every June I have a strong desire to make a traditional sweet called "Minazuki (水無月)," a triangular mochi dessert topped with red beans.
"Minazuki," is also another name for June in the Japanese calendar; consequently, this sweet can only be eaten in June. This is the reason for my strong desire to make and eat.
Traditionally, it is eaten on June 30th. On that day, there is a ritual called "Nagoshi no Harae" to purify the bad luck spirits of the first half of the year and pray for good health for the second half of the year. A white mochi part represents ice. The red bean has the meaning of chasing away evil spirits and bad lucks.
It is a simple recipe, but last year I could not make it successfully, so since last July, I have been waiting for this June to make Minazuki.
I recently made Minazuki using Azuki cooked over two days in advance the night before my tea ceremony class. I put it into a square-shaped Japanese traditional wooden container, and I wrapped it with furoshiki, a square-shaped Japanese wrapping cloth, and took it to the tea class.
In my tea class, everyone looked so pleased with the homemade Minazuki, which really made me happy. It was worth waiting a year to make it. A little happiness fills my everyday life, in fact, I'm looking forward to making it again next year.
Wishing all of you good health in the second half of the year.
All the best,
Kumiko