First time held! Announcement of cooperation in supervising a stamp rally event featuring 16 red bean paste sweets in Izumo City, the birthplace of Zenzai
*Japan Anko Association*
Press release: August 28, 2024
**
First time held! Announcement of cooperation in supervising a stamp rally event featuring 16 red bean paste sweets in Izumo City, the birthplace of Zenzai
The Japan Anko Association (Toshima-ku, Tokyo: Chairman Nishii Anko) will hold a stamp rally event “Izumo Anko Tabi” for the first time in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture from Saturday, September 7, 2024, featuring 16 types of anko sweets.
~Unshu Hirata Edition~” We will supervise and cooperate.
– Name: Izumo Anko Journey ~Unshu Hirata Edition~
– Sponsor: Izumo Confectionery Association, Hirata Confectionery Association / Supervision: Japan Anko Association
– Co-sponsor: Unshu Hirata Town Play Executive Committee / Cooperation: Hirata Chamber of Commerce and Industry / Sponsor: Izumo City, Izumo Tourism Association
– Event period: September 7, 2024 (Saturday) to November 8, 2024 (Friday) – Venue: Hirata-cho, Izumo City (16 shops in total including Japanese confectionery shops, Western confectionery shops, sweet shops, bakeries, restaurants, etc.)
* [What is Izumo Anko Travel] *
“Izumo Anko Trip” is a stamp rally event that tours anko sweets from Japanese confectionery shops, Western confectionery shops, sweet shops, bakeries, restaurants, etc. in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. This time, the first time, we will be going on the “Izumo Anko Trip” limited to the Hirata area of Izumo City.
~Unshu Hirata Edition~”, we will hold a stamp rally for all 16 types of red bean paste sweets. Sponsored by the Izumo Confectionery Association and the Hirata Confectionery Association, and supervised by the Japan Anko Association, it will be held from September 7th (Saturday) to November 8th (Friday), 2024.
* [Why Izumo?] *
One of our association’s visions is “regional development through red bean paste.” Supervising and cooperating with a stamp rally event for local red bean paste sweets like this one can be considered a concrete action to promote this vision. So why Izumo? There are two major reasons for this.
First, Izumo is the birthplace of “zenzai.” Since ancient times, it has been believed that azuki beans have the effect of warding off evil spirits. From this background, zenzai is said to have originated from jinzaimochi, which was served at Shinto rituals in Izumo. Zenzai is now eaten all over the country. If you unravel its origins, you will find that it is a good omen, yet filling, and has long been a source of support for people’s mind and body, with its gentle sweetness and enveloping warmth. The position of zenzai in Japan can now be said to be that it is a national red bean paste sweet.
Izumo has cultivated smiles and hearts of people through these nationally-known red bean sweets. I have no doubt that this place is full of opportunities and possibilities to practically promote the “realization of world peace through red bean paste” that our association has been striving for since its founding. Of course, you can also enjoy local zenzai at this stamp rally.
And that’s the second reason. As you know, Izumo is one of the best matchmaking destinations in Japan. The word “en” is said to originate from the Buddhist term “engi.” Dependent origination is the idea that all existence cannot exist on its own, but arises only through infinite relationships. This means that we, who can eat red bean paste and smile every day, have also encountered countless outstanding sweets, the craftsmen who have brought them into the world, and the land, culture, and history that have nurtured the craftsmen. It can be said that this is the result of all sorts of connections that overlap across time and space.
Since our association’s philosophy is to achieve world peace through red bean paste, we have no choice but to continue to build upon this wonderful relationship for which we are so grateful. That’s why it’s Izumo. By being involved in regional development activities through Anko in one of Japan’s best matchmaking destinations, we sincerely hope to be able to have a positive impact on the endless connections that will continue.
* [Why Hirata Town] *
This time’s “Izumo Anko Trip” will be held in Hirata-cho, Izumo City as “Unshu Hirata Edition”. Hirata Town is called “Unshu Hirata” and is located halfway between Izumo Taisha and Matsue. During the Edo period, it prospered for a long time as a distribution center for supplies for the Matsue clan, including cotton products. It has a solid history of supporting the local economy as a trade hub connecting Izumo Taisha Shrine, now known as the sacred place for marriage, and Matsue, which has the best old traditions in the San’in region. As you know, Izumo Taisha is the birthplace of Zenzai. Matsue is one of Japan’s three major sweets shops, and has produced many excellent red bean paste sweets.
Unshu Hirata has served as a bridge between these two cities that represent Japan’s red bean paste culture. There is no way that delicious red bean paste sweets don’t exist. Izumo zenzai, which has been known for a long time, has an important mochi theory. However, it would be a waste to limit Izumo’s red bean sweets to just zenzai. Learning from the past and new. In order to shed more light on Izumo’s local anko and convey its charm and potential to the world, the first “Izumo Anko Journey” is the first time.
I came to the idea that I should do “Unshu Hirata Edition”.
For a limited time only during this stamp rally, there will be many newly developed red bean paste sweets unique to Unshu Hirata. If the potential of Unshu Hirata in anko is proven through this event, Shimane Prefecture will have a long east-west “Shimane Anko” region, stretching from east to Matsue, Unshu Hirata, Izumo Taisha, and Tsuwano, the westernmost point where our association is already involved. A belt appears.
* [Why is it held from September to November] *
This is the first “Izumo Anko Trip”
～Unshu Hirata Edition～” will be held from September 7th (Saturday) to November 8th (Friday). At this time of year, Unshu Hirata holds the Unshu Hirata Town Asobi, a major autumn revitalization event that brings together the town’s collective efforts, and attracts many visitors from outside the town, the city, and the prefecture. This year, the event is scheduled for October 20th, and it is during this time of the year, from the preparation period in September to the afterglow period after the event, that the city is at its most vibrant and full of enthusiasm. will show you. We believe that we will be able to bring more smiles and energy than usual through anko to all the anko fans who come to eat the anko sweets in the city during the season when the city is in the best condition.
* [What is Unshu Hirata Ambassador?] *
“Unshu Hirata Ambassador” is a title that recognizes a person who not only has basic knowledge about red bean paste, but is also well-versed in the red bean paste situation that specializes in the Unshu Hirata area within Izumo. This is a title awarded by our association to Anko fans who meet the certification conditions, and as proof of that, they will receive a “Unshu Hirata Ambassador
Certification”. The condition for certification is to purchase and eat all of the red bean paste sweets at all 16 target stores. In this stamp rally, after a participant purchases anko sweets at a store, a store employee will present the participant with a “Q Anko A”. “Q Anko A” is a set of simple questions and answers related to red bean paste, presented on an A4 size panel or paper. In other words, participants can have fun learning about anko while communicating with store staff just by looking at “Q Anko A”. After reading the panel, you will receive an “Anko Stamp”. You may also take a photo of the panel with your smartphone and save it for future reference. Anko fans who complete all 16 stamps while learning trivia about red bean paste at each of the 16 stores will be certified as “Unshu Hirata
Ambassadors.”
* [Event official page] *
For event details and how to participate, please check the Izumo Confectionery Association official website.
https://izumokashi.wixsite.com/izumokashi
* [What is the Japan Anko Association] *
– Name: Japan Anko Association
– Mission: Realize world peace through Anko.
– Secretariat: Diamond Gate Ikebukuro 5F, 1-16-15 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo (inside Rally Inc.)
-WEB: https://anko.love/
It was founded in October 2018 by current president Anko Nishii as an association for the purpose of promoting the spread of red bean paste. When the association was first established, there were 17 members, known as “ambassadors,” but the number will exceed 10,000 in 2024. The association’s philosophy is to “realize world peace through red bean paste,” and one of its core businesses is regional development through red bean paste.
Main supervisory cooperation and support include “Bicchu Anbi” in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, “Tsuwano Anko Tabi” in Tsuwano Town, Shimane Prefecture, “Hekinan and #HanamoAnkomo Stamp Rally” in Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture, and “Kenbuchi” in Kenbuchi Town, Hokkaido. Anko Festival”, JR East “Takanawa Gateway Fest”
Moon Night Anko”, Osaka Metro “Anko Meguri”, Odakyu Department Store Shinjuku store “Ankoi”
“Ankoi”, Hankyu Umeda Main Store “Time Spreads Anko”, Kagoshima Yamagataya “Anko Exhibition ~Tea and Utensils~”, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi “Anko Expo”, LaLaport Yokohama/Ebina “I”
LOVE
Anko”, Jazz Dream Nagashima’s “Anko Festival” and many more. Independently sponsored events include the Anko Club, a red bean paste eating comparison club activity, and the Anko Night Party, an online networking event for red bean paste fans across the country.
* [About Chairman Nishii Anko] *
The first president of the Japan Anko Association. I have loved red bean paste ever since I can remember, and I am a hardcore red bean paste lover who has eaten over 10,000 types of red bean paste. In addition to eating red bean paste, we also develop red bean paste recipes and research the history and health effects of red bean paste. Major media interviews and appearances include Nikkei Shimbun, Nikkei MJ “Food Frontier”, Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun, TBS TV “N Star”, “Matsuko’s Unknown World”, Japan. TV “news”
every.”, “ZIP!”, TV Asahi “Super J Channel”, Fuji Television “Nonstop!”, Kansai Television “Hoso Runner”, “Nani on
Saturday!?”, NHK
E-Tele “Shakin!”, NHK Kansai “Hotto Kansai Saturday”, TV Tokyo “Takeshi’s Nippon no Mikata!”, NHK FM “Talking with Matsuodo”, J-WAVE “STEPONE”, TOKYO
FM “I heard something good” etc. As a lecturer, he has worked with Yamanashi Prefectural Industrial Technology Center, Sweet Foods Testing Center “Bean Processing Research Group”, Izumo Confectionery Association, Yomiuri Culture, etc. In June 2023, he became the ambassador of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ “Arigatou Movement.”