Sekihan facts for kids

Sekihan is a special red rice dish from Japan.

Sekihan (which means "red rice" in Japanese) is a traditional Japanese food. People usually eat it on important days and for celebrations. This special dish first came from China a very long time ago, during the Jōmon period. Back then, it was made with a type of red rice.

Today, sekihan is made by steaming sticky rice and red beans. It is often served in a bowl or as part of a bento box lunch. Sometimes, people add local ingredients to make it even sweeter. For example, in Chiba Prefecture, they might add peanuts. In Yamanashi Prefecture and Hiroshima Prefecture, they use nattō (fermented soybeans). And in Nagano Prefecture, they add sweet beans.

Celebrating Sekihan

In 2012, a group was started to help more people learn about and enjoy sekihan in Japan. This group decided that November 23rd each year would be known as Sekihan Day! It's a day to celebrate this tasty and important dish.

Images for kids

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  Sekihan

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  Patbap is a similar Korean dish.