Japan loses for beans!

Beans are really popular in Ireland and the U.K. so when I came to Japan, I was really excited that they had a comfort food from home. Only to realize that the beans in Japan are served dry, unlike at home where they are lavished with tomato sauce! They are totally different and to this day I still eat a lot less beans in Japan than I do at home. 

I don't know the statistics of consumption in each country. But I do know that the in Japan there is a National Association for the Promotion of Beans, and they are trying to promote legumes consumption in Japan. They made October 13th annually "Bean Day" as one of their strategies to promote legumes. The reason for the date of October 13th is that it is the new date for September 13th on the old calendar which was "Thirteen Nights" when there was a custom, "Mamemei Getsu", to offer beans to the moon and people ate beans on the night.

It would be great to see the National Association for Promotion of Beans succeed in their endeavours, because beans are undisputedly a super food. They contain high quality protein and are rich in dietary fibre. Maybe they should try making European style beans in sauce and they might appeal to a wider audience! Do you eat beans in Japan and / or your home country?