Maruimo (Japanese yam)

Maruimo, a variety of black-skinned Japanese yam, is cultivated in the alluvial fan of the Tedori River, whose soft soil is rich in water. It is characterized by its stickiness. It is shipped to other prefectures as an ingredient for Japanese cuisine and luxury sweets. It originally had an irregular shape with bumps, and resembled ginger root. It is said to have acquired its present round shape by being cultivated in sandy places. In order to improve its quality, farmers cultivate it in different places every year, and thus avoid damage from planting the same crop on the land. Those harvested in winter are stored at low temperature and shipped all year round.