red bean paste; anko
The familiar sweet paste used in Japanese confectionery, especially made from azuki beans. Often left untranslated as “anko” in food contexts.
どら焼きにあんこがたっぷり入っている。
The dorayaki has plenty of red bean paste in it.
This anko is not overly sweet.
filling; sweet filling
Refers to the filling inside a confection such as a manju; in practice this is often bean paste, but the focus is on the inside filling rather than the ingredient.
See also: 饅頭
この饅頭は皮よりあんこが多い。
This manju has more filling than outer dough.
An extended use for material packed inside something, like stuffing or padding. For technical or very explicit wording, 詰め物 or 中綿 may be clearer.
古い座布団はあんこがへたっている。
The stuffing in the old floor cushion has gone flat.
ぬいぐるみのあんこが少し出ている。
Some of the stuffing is coming out of the stuffed toy.
You wrap red bean paste inside the daifuku.
Every year, my mother simmers azuki beans into paste before New Year's.
This manju is generously filled with bean paste.