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Sakurajima radish
A selection of Sakurajima radishes
GenusRaphanus
SpeciesRaphanus sativus (syn. Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus)
VarietySee text.
Cultivar groupSakurajima radishes
OriginJapan

The Sakurajima radish or Sakurajima daikon (Japanese: 桜島大根, Sakurajima daikon) is a special cultivar of the Japanese radish named for its original place of cultivation, the former island of Sakurajima in Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture. It is the largest radish variety in the world.[1] Its regular weight is about 6 kilograms (13 lb), although large ones can be as much as 27 kg (60 lb). It can grow as large as 50 cm (20 in) in diameter.[2] It is also sometimes known in Japanese as shimadekon (しまでこん, "island daikon").

The three varieties are early, middle, and late, but the most commonly encountered form is the late.[3] The seeding period is from last August to first September and the harvest season is from December to February. To reach full size, special care needs to be taken with the region's volcanic-ash soil.

Taxonomy

Various scientific names have been given to cultivated radishes. Sources may use Raphanus sativus[4] or Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus.[5] The species may then be divided into one or more varieties, e.g. var. acanthiformis Nakai,[6] var. hortensis Backer,[7] or var. longipinnatus L.H. Bailey.[8]

Names

In English, the Sakurajima radish is also sometimes known as the Sakurajima island giant radish, giant daikon, or jumbo daikon.[9]

Uses

Sakurajima radish has a fine texture and is low in fiber. It is sweeter than other varieties of Japanese radish. In Japanese cuisine, it is typically prepared by simmering to produce dishes such as furofuki daikon.[10] Kiriboshi daikon [ja] and tsukemono are popular prepared foods which also employ the radish. The large size of tsukemono, senmaizuke [ja], is sold in souvenir shops in Kagoshima.

History

Three theories are given about its development:

  1. An origin from an original wild daikon in Sakurajima
  2. An origin from hōryō daikon in Aichi Prefecture
  3. An origin from kokubu daikon (hamanoichi daikon)

An 1804 mention of Kagoshima in reference to the giant Sakurajima radish shows it was cultured before then at least. The main production was north-west of Sakurajima, but it was moved to the north later. About 1200 farm houses had about 200 hectares (490 acres) of growing area in total in the high season. Sakurajima radish is one of the most precious local commercial crops. Also, in every harvest season, the toikae (Kagoshima dialect for "market") was held in Kajiki (now part of Aira District) and people traded Sakurajima radishes with straw. However, the main crop was shifted to satsuma (mikan) from Sakurajima radishes, because the area of Sakurajima suffered so much damage from a 1914 eruption of the nearby volcano, decreasing the growing area to about 30 hectares (74 acres) by 1955. Furthermore, its growing area was decreased to about 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres) owing to ashfall between then and 2001.

The main growing districts of now are the suburbs of Kagoshima city and Kirishima city. Because of fewer eruptions recently, the growing area has been extended.

References

  1. ^ Guinness World Records.[citation needed]
  2. ^ "The New official guide: Japan". Japan: New Official Guide Book. Japan National Tourist Organization: 837. 1975. ISSN 0077-8591.
  3. ^ Useful Plants of Japan - Described and Illustrated. READ BOOKS. 2008. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-4086-3952-8.
  4. ^ "Raphanus sativus L." World Flora Online. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  5. ^ "Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (L.) Schmalh." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  6. ^ Huang Tseng-chieng & al. Flora of Taiwan, Vol. VI, p. 58. Epoch Publishing (Taipei), 1979. (in English) & (in Chinese)
  7. ^ "Raphanus sativus var. hortensis Backer". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  8. ^ "Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus L.H.Bailey". World Flora Online. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
  9. ^ Porcher, Michel. Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database. "Sorting Raphanus names". University of Melbourne (Melbourne), 1995 (created) & 2010 (last modified). Accessed 22 Jun 2014.
  10. ^ "Furofukidaikon (ふろふき大根)" (in Japanese). Kikkoman.
  • 今村知子　『かごしま文庫51　鹿児島の料理』　春苑堂出版、1999年、ISBN 4-915093-58-1 (in Japanese)
  • 串間俊文　『かごしま文庫26　鹿児島の園芸植物』　春苑堂出版、1995年、ISBN 4-915093-33-6 (in Japanese)
  • 橋村健一　『かごしま文庫13　桜島大噴火』　春苑堂出版、1994年、ISBN 4-915093-19-0 (in Japanese)