New Research Highlights Importance of Adzuki Beans in Early Neolithic East Asia

Archaeology Magazine ^ | September 25, 2025 | editors / unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

Today, the adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is cultivated throughout much of East Asia and appears prominently in a variety of dishes across many cultures. It is treasured not only for its nutritional value but for its ability to enrich soils. However, according to a statement released by Washington University in St. Louis (WashU), its cultural importance dates back much further than previously thought. WashU researchers and colleagues from Shandong University identified charred adzuki bean remains from the Xiaogao archaeological site in Shandong, China, that date to 8,000 to 9,000 years ago. These examples are at least 4,000 years older than previous evidence of the legume's existence in the Yellow River region, suggesting that the bean's introduction occurred during the beginning of the Neolithic period when humans first began to cultivate plants for food. The new evidence indicates that adzuki beans formed part of an early Neolithic multicropping system alongside millet, rice, and soybeans. The study also evaluated the archaeological evidence of adzuki beans from 41 sites across Japan, Korea, and southern China to get a better understanding of the chronology, regional differences, and evolution of this versatile legume. "There has been considerable recent momentum in recognizing plant domestication as a protracted and widely dispersed process -- one without singular geographical centers," said WashU archaeologist Xinyi Liu. "Our results align with this perspective by illustrating parallel developments in the Yellow River, Japan, and South Korea during the Neolithic." To read about the dispersal of domesticated cereals across China, go to "You Are How You Cook."

---

TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: adzuki; agriculture; dietandcuisine; godsgravesglyphs

[SunkenCiv]

Charred (left) and fresh (right) adzuki bean

Cai Haohong

[SunkenCiv]

[poconopundit]

Interesting topic, SunkenCiv.  Living in Japan the past 3 years I'm steadily learning what adzuki beans are all about.

Two thousands years ago, Japanese had no written language, so scholars in Japan used Chinese (kanji) to discuss complex topics.  So it makes sense that the Japanese learned a great deal from China about growing and preparing adzuki beans.

It wasn't until around the year 1000 when the nobility of Kyoto developed their own Japanese written language based on an ingenious syllabary called hiragana based on 100 unique sounds.  This language "technology" brought Japanese civilization to the surface since knowledge was now highly accessible to: farmers, craftsmen, merchants, workers, and the common people.  But I digress :-)

Atzuki are red beans that taste much like other beans.  But what the Japanese do is sweeten atsuki beans to become "anko", which is used in all sorts of hot street food you'll find in abundance during the cold months of the year.

Now one other key use of the sweetened adzuki bean is to create confections of exquisite artistry and subtle taste.  A beautiful explanation with pictures is shown in this story:

The Art of Making Japanese Traditional Confections, Taught by a Kyoto Artisanal Confectioner

[Omnivore-Dan]

I can’t help myself. “Beans, beans, the musical fruit, the more you eat, the more you toot!”.

[9YearLurker]

They’re good for your heart, the...

[Omnivore-Dan]

Yep, that too.

[Liz]

LOVE that link........the Japanese do things with such precision and artistry.

[SunkenCiv]

When I was in my teens we used to ride trails on Adzukis, and had a blas- uh, wait, no, I guess they were Hondas and Kawasakis. My older sister’s boyfriend of the time was a total gearhead, and referred to the 2-cycle (more torque in those for the weight) versions as “ring-dings”. Great, now I’m hungry again.

[SunkenCiv]

Rockette Morton ran on laser beans.

[Omnivore-Dan]

Got me on that one. I’ll have to look it up.

[SunkenCiv]

I remembered it, but had to look up the spelling. 😁🎵

[poconopundit]

I have a pickleball friend named Suzuki. He’s doesn’t ride a bike, yet he’s a test driver for Honda :-)

[Candor7]

I once met a neolithic Japanese gentleman in Kyoto. His name? Onara Yakusanoikazuchi

[poconopundit]

Great, Liz.  Precision and artistry.  So true.

There's a cool TV show called I Want to Go to Japan!.  The show searches the world for foreigners who are actively practicing some traditional Japanese craft or cuisine. 

The TV show then pays the person's airfare to come to Nippon to work with great artisans who take the foreigner's knowledge of the craft to a much higher level.  Many of the foreigners then take that knowledge back to their home country and create a business out of it.

I searched Youtube, but it seems like the TV show is protecting its copyright.  But here's a video that gives you a good idea what it's all about:

Mastering the Craft: An American's Apprenticeship with Japanese Urushi Artisans

In a recent episode, an American was sent to Japan to learn about atzuki beans.  He first went to a business specializing in mixing the beans with the sweetener to create the anko.  Then he went to a shop in Kyoto where he learned how those exquisite, handmade adzuki confections are made.

[poconopundit]

Ha ha!  Thanks, Candor7, for always reminding us there's a mythological and spiritual dimension to Japan's culture.

Yes, it may be sunken behind mass media.  It's often "lost in translation."  And its taste is often totally disguised by the grim gruel Google surfers get from their daily diet of "buy this" teasers.

But the gods of thunder are still there! 

[Omnivore-Dan]

The bassist and rhythm guitarist for Captain Beefheart! Shame on me.