chunky mochi with half-polished rice, filled with red bean paste
A traditional Japanese sweet made from partially polished glutinous rice, giving it a coarse texture, and typically filled with sweet azuki bean paste. The name is associated with the Heian-period monk Kūya.
I bought kūya-mochi at a long-established shop in Kyoto.
Kūya-mochi uses half-polished rice, so it has a distinctive texture.
Sweet bean paste used as a filling; 空也餅 is one of many confections that contain 餡.
Named after the Heian-period monk Kūya (空也), who is said to have popularized this style of mochi. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.