Dango
Dango (団子) is a Japanese dumpling made from mochiko (rice flour), related to mochi. It is sticky and filling. It is often served with green tea.
Dango are eaten year-round, but the different varieties are traditionally eaten in given seasons. Three to four dango are often served on a skewer. One variety of dango from Hokkaidō is made from potato flour and baked with shoyu (soy sauce).
Types of dango
There are many different varieties of dango which are usually named after the various seasonings served on or with it.
- Anko: Commonly known as (sweetened) red bean paste, while ingredients other than azuki are used on rare occasions. An-Dango is the most popular flavor in Japan.
- Botchan dango: Dango that has three colors. One is colored by red beans, the second by eggs, and the third by green tea. Botchan dango are often seen in Japanese anime.
- Chichi dango: Slightly-sweet light treats usually eaten as a dessert.
- Goma: sesame seeds. It is both sweet and salty.
- Kinako: A toasted soy flour.
- Kushi dango: Dangos held by a skewer
- Mitarashi: A syrup made from shoyu (soy sauce), sugar and starch. Popular with children and women.
- Tepanyaki Dango:Dango on a skewer with a tangy tepanyaki sauce.
Derived terms
A common Japanese proverb "Hana yori dango" (花より団子, which translates as "dumplings rather than flowers") refers to a preference for practical things rather than aesthetics.
Dango is used internationally amongst go players as a derogatory term for an inefficient, dumpling-like cluster of stones in a go game. It is also the name of a go variant invented in 1991.
A hairstyle consisting of dango-like buns on either side of the head is sometimes known as odango.
Rise in popularity
In 1999, dango experienced a surge of popularity in Japan following the release of a song entitled "Dango san kyōdai" (three dango brothers) was released. In a play on words, the song is a tango. The CD single sold over 2.9 million copies, making it the 4th best selling CD single in Japan during 1968-2006.
In the extremely popular Japanese film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo, the family of lead character Kuruma Torajirō (Tora-san) operated a small traditional dango shop in Shibamata, Katsushika, Tokyo.
In the popular anime series Clannad, Dango is the main focus of the ending theme.
See also
- Wagashi, traditional Japanese confectionery