This study, published in Science and led by Prof. Cheng-Ruei Lee of National Taiwan University in collaboration with Dr. Ken Naito of Japan’s National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), reveals that adzuki beans were first domesticated in Japan. By analyzing genetic material from Japan’s national germplasm collections, the team identified domestication-related genetic changes in central Japan dating back 3,000–5,000 years, providing evidence that the Jōmon people practiced early forms of agriculture. They also discovered mutations in genes linked to seed color and other domestication traits dating back nearly 10,000 years, suggesting an even earlier onset of selection. These findings challenge the traditional view that agriculture began in Japan only with the Yayoi people and highlight the value of cross-national collaboration, while also opening new avenues for both archaeological research and agricultural science.