Under no circumstances to be confused with shirako (go ahead, find out why), shiruko (汁粉) is a type of (very) sweet soup made from boiled azuki beans, usually with a ball or two of mochi floating in it.

During the Japanese winter, piping hot shiruko is frequently sold from vending machines. I discovered this the hard way one wintery and hungover day, by purchasing what my bleary eyes thought was a miniature can of Cherry Coke...

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