Yamagata Prefecture is famous for cherries, which herald the arrival of early summer. Yamagata Prefecture is the number one producer of cherries in Japan, accounting for more than 70% of the national harvest. In areas such as Higashine City, Tendo City, and Sagae City, cherry fields stretch out against the backdrop of beautiful mountains.

Cherries are loved by everyone for their cute appearance and sweet and sour taste.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of cherries.

Characteristics of Yamagata Prefecture cherries

Cherries are also known as the "jewel of the orchard." They are so named because of their beautiful ruby color and the difficulty of cultivating them. Yamagata Prefecture boasts the highest production of cherries in Japan, despite the difficulty of cultivating them.

Cherries bear fruit by going dormant through the cold winter, and flower buds develop through the hot summer, resulting in good fruit set the following year. Yamagata Prefecture's climate is characterized by little humidity and rain during the rainy season, extremely hot summers, and heavy snowfall in winter, making it ideal for cultivating cherries.

What's more, the cherries are made even more delicious by the tireless efforts of the producers. They take great care to grow the cherries, pruning in February, thinning out the flower buds in March, taking precautions against frost, and hand-pollinating with feather dusters.

During the harvest season, which runs from late May to early July, the cherries are quickly and carefully picked and beautifully packed into boxes before arriving at the market.

Yamagata has a variety of varieties, including the juicy and refreshingly sweet "Nanyo," the sweet and sour red-fleshed "Beni Sayaka," the sweet and firm "Beni Shuho," the large and flavorful "Beni Temari," the vivid red "Beni Kirari," and the juicy and early-ripening "Beni Yutaka." The most popular variety is "Sato Nishiki," which has an excellent balance of sweetness and sourness and a soft texture.

The history of cherries in Yamagata Prefecture

Cherries are believed to have originated in Southwest Asia, where they grew naturally and spread as they were eaten by people and birds.

Cherries were introduced to Japan in 1868 (the first year of the Meiji era), and to Yamagata Prefecture in 1875 (the eighth year of the Meiji era). At the time, attempts were made to cultivate cherries all over the country, but many areas failed due to damage from frost, the rainy season, typhoons, etc. However, Yamagata Prefecture, which suffered little damage, was successful in cultivating cherries.

Honda Shigemitsu is known as the father of cherries. In 1888, Honda Shigeyoshi and Watanabe Shichibei of Sagae City, Yamagata Prefecture, established an agricultural product testing station and began researching Western vegetables such as cabbage, potatoes, apples, and cherries.

Honda Shigemitsu planted several varieties of cherries in his own field and discovered that cherries grow well in fields with good drainage. He gave out seedlings to farmers and encouraged them to cultivate them.

Around 1895, the number of varieties increased and the amount of cherries produced also increased. In order to make cherries, which do not keep well, available to more people, Kanbei Inoue developed a canned version and sold them as far away as Yokohama.

Among cherries, the one we want to focus on is the top variety, "Sato Nishiki." Its creator, Eisuke Sato, a dedicated farmer from Higashine City, was passionate about improving cherry varieties. During the Meiji period, he cultivated "Hinode," "Sango," "Wakamurasaki," and other varieties, but had many problems with them, such as the cherries not keeping well after harvest and rotting, or being damaged during shipping.

So in 1912, they crossed "Koutama," which doesn't keep well but tastes good, with "Napoleon," which is very sour but firm and keeps well. The first fruit was produced 10 years later, in 1922.

Now that the fruit had grown, "cherries that taste great, keep well, and are easy to grow," it was decided to squeeze it into a single tree and make it into a log. After 16 years of hard work since 1912, this new variety was named "Sato Nishiki," and because of its excellent taste and long shelf life, it has become Yamagata Prefecture's signature cherry variety.

The name "Sato Nishiki" was given to the variety by Eisuke Sato's friend, Tosaku Okada, who ran a seedling business. When it came time to name the variety, Eisuke Sato suggested "Dewanishiki," but Tosaku Okada suggested "Sato Nishiki, which includes the name of the discoverer," and the name was chosen.

After that, the shipping volume of Sato-nishiki gradually increased, and from around 1975, the demand for eating them raw increased, and they suddenly became popular nationwide. Also, the full-scale introduction of rain shelters around the same time made it possible to produce fully ripe cherries suitable for eating raw, which is also said to have led to a rapid expansion in production.

Yamagata has come to be known as the "Cherry Kingdom," and many tourists visit in search of cherries.

Yamagata Prefecture Tourism Information and Access

Yamagata, famous for its cherries, has a variety of tourist attractions. This time, we will introduce three popular tourist spots in Yamagata.

Tendo Park

"Tendo Park" offers a variety of spectacular views. The entirety of Mount Maizuru, located in the center of Tendo City, is a park. From the observation plaza at the top of the mountain, you can see the natural beauty that represents Yamagata, including Mount Gassan, the Asahi mountain range, and the Mogami River.

Known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, about 2,000 cherry trees bloom in mid-April. The Tendo Cherry Blossom Festival is also a must-see. A "human shogi" game is held, in which people dressed in armor and kimonos become the pieces of shogi and fight each other. The garden is filled with seasonal flowers such as azaleas, hydrangeas, and maples, making it a fun place to stroll through the year.

Tamadare Falls

Tamadare Falls, 63m high and 5m wide, is said to have been discovered and named by Kobo Daishi about 1,200 years ago. The sight of the waterfall gushing down from the cliff is beautiful and overwhelming.

We especially recommend the nighttime illuminations during Golden Week and the Obon festival, which create a fantastical scene that is completely different from the daytime. Also, from late January to mid-February, the waterfall freezes over, creating a rare "frozen waterfall," a sight you must see. You can enjoy the spectacular beauty of nature.

Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium

Yamagata Prefecture's only aquarium, Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium, has so many jellyfish exhibits that it is also called the "Jellyfish Dream Hall." There are over 60 types of jellyfish on display. You can experience a dream world at the "Jellyfish Dream Theater." The sight of about 10,000 moon jellyfish floating in a huge tank about 5 meters in diameter, lit up in blue, is truly fantastical.

Not only can you see jellyfish, but you can also see local Shonai fish, sea lions, and seals. It is a popular tourist spot that also has a restaurant where you can enjoy jellyfish dishes.

Yamagata, an attractive place for both gourmet food and sightseeing, has a variety of ways to get there. It is also easily accessible from Japan's three largest cities, Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. If you fly from Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya, you can arrive in about an hour.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Yamagata. Find the best way to get there.

summary

Cherries, packed with the nature of Yamagata and the love of the producers, are a taste you should try at least once. Cherries are delicious as they are, but the dishes and desserts made with cherries are also must-try.

If you visit Yamagata, be sure to try some cherries.

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