Rice Cake and Sweet Bean Paste

I remember once, a long time ago, there was this glutton who lived near here. He went by the name of Yojuu, and his appetite was truly astounding. Yojuu constantly amazed his wife with his gluttony. As soon as she finished cooking the rice, as soon as she finished cooking the noodles, they would disappear into Yojuu’s stomach. Before you could say ‘udon’ he was finished eating, and he was always, always hungry.

Well, one day when Yojuu was out and about, he happened to hear a rumor that made his mouth water. It seems that a member of the local gentry, Shoyasama, was planning to sponsor a little eating contest at that year’s festival. The prize for winning this eating contest was to an entire horse load of rice, and all you had to do to win was to eat one little tub full, five and a half liters, of freshly prepared rice cake mash that they call mochi.

As that rumor spread through the village, it quickly became the talk of the town. “Hey, have you heard?” one of the local lads said. “There’s going to be an eatin’ contest at the festival this year. Shoyasama’s going to give a whole horse load of rice to anyone who’s crazy enough to eat an entire tub of mochi in one sitting.”

Another youngster replied, “A whole horse load of rice, you say? That’s a big deal. You planning to take a shot at?” “What, me?” the first replied. “It would be great to have all that rice, but I could never eat that much mochi in one sitting.”

As the day of the festival drew nearer, that eatin’ contest became the main subject of conversation in the village. One guy says, “Five and a half liters of mochi, huh? All at once!? I’ll bet that Shoyasama is pretty sure that no one can pull this off. I’d say that his rice is pretty safe.”

But then another guy says, “Say…what about Yojuu? Yeah, I’ll bet that Yojuu could do it.”

“Hey, you’re right. Yojuu just might have a chance.”

Well then a third guy speaks, “I don’t know…I think that if anyone, even Yojuu, were to eat all that mochi, his stomach would burst and he would die.”

The big day finally rolls around, and the weather is just perfect. Over in the woods around the village shrine the sound of flutes and drums let everyone know that the festival is about to begin. Shoyasama’s head man calls out, “We are just about ready to begin. Bring that mochi on out here.”

They haul the mochi out into the middle of the festival grounds, and the head man shouts, “I think that you all know what this is all about. Shoyasama will give an entire horse load of rice to anyone who can eat all of the mochi in one sitting. Anybody out there want to give it try?”

Before anyone else can say anything, Yojuu’s big old voice is heard coming from the back of the crowd. “Well, I think I just might be able to handle that little old bowl of mochi, if you don’t object.”

“We were counting on you to give a try, Yojuu. Come on up here, boy!” Yojuu steps up to that tub of mochi and just gives a look for a minute. It is a mountain of mochi. Then he starts to eat, and it is quite a spectacle. The villagers all start crowding around to get a good look, but before you know it, all of that mochi from in that tub, is now inside of Yojuu. Folks seem a little disappointed that it is over so quickly, they were expecting a little more of a show, but they’re real happy for Yojuu.

Yojuu is just standing there holding his stomach like it really is getting ready to explode. Shoyasama’ head man comes up, slaps Yojuu on the back and says, “You really did it , you really ate all that mochi at once. If you feel up to it, why don’t just go on up to the house and collect your prize.”

When they get to the house, Shoyasama himself comes out. Yojuu is still holding on to his stomach and he is not looking to good. He thinks that Shoyasama is going to congratulate him personally and give him his rice. You can imagine Yojuu’s surprise when Shoyasama says, “You I hear that you have successfully completed to first part of the contest. That‘s just great!”

Yojuu is thinking, “First part of the contest!!!???”

Shoyasama is thinking fast because he doesn’t want to part with all of the rice. He continues, “Tell me. What goes best with mochi? Huh? Well…azuki of course. Am I right?” Yojuu moves head up and down, but it’s hard to tell if he is agreeing with Shoyasama or losing consciousness.

“So, for the second and final part of our contest,” says Shoyasama, “you will be asked to eat these nine delicious azuki.” One of the help carries out this tray that holds the mountain of extra large, steaming hot azuki.

Azuki in case you have never heard of them, are made from a sweetened bean paste known as ‘anko’. The anko is rolled into balls about the size of your fist and then boiled.

Yojuu just stands there looking at that pile of azuki. At this point Shoyasama is sure that his rice is safe. Nobody can eat nine extra large azuki. Not on top of five and a half liters of mochi. Then, to the amazement of all, Yojuu’s stomach growls, he licks his lips and tears into that pile of bean past like hasn’t eaten in days.

He devoured that pile of azuki in less time than it takes for the smile to fade from Shoyasama’s lips. Shoyasama is standing with his jaw hanging open as Yojuu stumbles back from the empty tray with a groan. He turns and stumbles past the gawking villagers no longer caring about the Shoyasama or the prize or even if he ever eats again.

He makes his way home, convinced that his stomach will burst at any moment and that he will die on the spot. When she sees him coming holding on to his bulging stomach, Yojuu’s wife dashes out to the field and pulls a couple of nice big, spicy daikon radishes. While Yojuu moans and prepares himself for death, she grinds up the daikon.

“Here eat this.” she says. Yojuu looks at her like he doesn’t understand what she just said. For the first time in his life, he really can’t eat another bite. “Eat it! If you have eaten too much mochi, a little spicy daikon will make you feel better.” Yojuu’s wife persists.

She finally gets some of the daikon into her husband, and after a few minutes he starts to feel a little better. He tries a little more and feels even better.

Just about the time that Yojuu starting that think that he just might pull through, they hear the sound of a horse approaching the house. Most folks couldn’t afford a horse in those days, so Yojuu’s wife rushes out to see what’s happening.

“Here’s your rice!” says the head man from over at Shoyasama’s place as he is unloading the rice. “I have never, ever seen anything like what your husband did today. He ate the mochi and the azuki.” Yojuu’s wife bows deeply to thank him, and as he turns to go he says, “Oh no. Thank you, and keep the horse!”