Yamagata Prefecture

Akebia fruit

Over 90% of Akebia in Japan is produced in Tohoku! One of the autumn flavors, "Akebia" [Yamagata/Akita]

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Although not a very common fruit in the market,akebi.

Although it's often associated with growing wild in mountainous areas, it's actually cultivated commercially,over 90% of the domestic productionwith Yamagata and Akita prefectures accounting for

What is Akebia?

Akebia is a climbing deciduous shrub of the Akebiaceae family that is found in Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, excluding Hokkaido, and grows mainly in sunny mountains and fields

Wild Akebia
Wild Akebia

The stem grows as a vine, twining around other trees and other plants. When the fruit ripens, it splits open lengthwise, revealing sweet white pulp and black seeds. This process is"akemi" (opening fruit),and is the origin of the name "akebi."

Akebia has a variety of uses as a food ingredient

Akebia, whose fruit ripens in autumn, is often thought of as a fruit because its sticky white flesh has a banana-like texture and is sweet, but the skin can also be eaten

Akebia pulp
Akebia pulp

The peel is used like a vegetable, stir-fried with minced meat and miso, or stuffed with chopped meat, miso, mushrooms, etc. and baked.It is known to go well with oil because of its bitter taste like bitter melon and texture like eggplant

Link:Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries "Local Cuisine" - Akebi stuffed with miso and baked / Akebi fried in oil

Akebia flowers and buds
Akebia flowers and buds

Furthermore, the young shoots that sprout in spring are used as wild vegetables, and the vine-like stems that grow and become woody are sometimes used as herbal medicines

In some areas of Akita Prefecture, Akebia seeds were pressed and used as cooking oil, and it was once a luxury product known as the "king of cooking oils." It went into decline as cheaper cooking oils became more widespread, but in 2017, it was once again commercialized as a luxury cooking oil, led by the former Nishiki Village (now Senboku City)

It's a truly versatile plant that has no waste

Nutrients in Akebia

The flesh is rich in vitamin C, with 65mg of vitamin C per 100g of edible portion, which is the third highest among fruits after kiwifruit and persimmon. It also contains folic acid, which is said to be effective in preventing anemia

The peel also contains a lot of potassium, which promotes the excretion of salt and prevents high blood pressure

Menard Cosmetics discovers Akebia's diet effects?

Menard Cosmetics Japan Co., Ltd. discovered in 2023 that an extract extracted from Akebia fruit has the effect of increasing beige fat cells in subcutaneous tissue, which have the ability to consume fat as heat

Since then, health foods containing Akebia extract have also been sold

Yamagata and Akita prefectures produce over 90% of the total amount distributed nationwide

Originally, the area cultivated commercially was not large, and the absolute amount of Akebia distributed was small, but almost all Akebia distributed in Japan comes from the Tohoku region

Cultivated Akebia
Cultivated Akebia

According to 2020 statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

  1. Yamagata Prefecture Harvest Yield: 44.8 tons Percentage (Share): 73.44%
  2. Akita Prefecture Harvest Yield: 16.2 tons Share: 26.56%
  3. none

It was stated that100% of domestic productiontakes place in Yamagata and Akita prefectures. However, I speculated that there might be some production in other regions, even if only in very small quantities, so I deliberately avoided making a 100% statement.

In Yamagata Prefecture, a group from Tendo City collected ginger from the mountains and shipped it to the Kanto region, where it received high praise, leading to increased production in Tendo City, Shirataka Town, and Asahi Town. In Akita Prefecture, most of the ginger is produced in Yurihonjo City

Link:Delicious Yamagata – "Akebi" showcases the unique local food culture

summary

Akebia is a versatile plant that can be used in every part, from the fruit and peel to the stems and seeds

It's not an ingredient you get to eat very often, but if you have the chance, why not give it a try?

During the harvest season, which is around September to October, it will also be available for purchase at various online shops

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