Azuki

A dark red named after the color of red azuki beans. Azuki apparently first appeared as a color name in the middle Edo period, in the 17th century. Azuki beans are believed to hold the power to ward off evil and misfortune. They were eaten at the beginning and end of "saiki," the period before a festival during which people kept body and mind pure to welcome the gods, and this led to their becoming a food for festive occasions, such as sekihan (red rice) and zenzai (sweet red bean soup).