Beans are extremely popular in Japan. They designate April 3rd of each year as “Ingen Mame Day”, in honor of the bean, which is known as a vegetarian food and also a plant that is full of numerous health advantages such as: Help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, reduce the risk of various cancers, rich in antioxidants, high in fiber and help control blood sugar levels to an appropriate level, etc. The beginning is from a story that a Zen monk brought a bean plant from China to grow in Kyoto in 1654. The bean plant lived for 19 years, passing away on this day in 1673.