root

Sweet potatoes are vegetables in which we eat the enlarged “root” part of the plant. Their stems and leaves grow above the ground, while the edible parts grow large underground, so they are dug out of the soil at harvest time. The portion of the root that stores nutrients and grows bigger in the soil is what we eat as sweet potatoes.

Apple

There’s a saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and apples are known as a very healthy fruit. They’re rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber, and they’re in season in autumn. With their crisp texture, they’re delicious eaten raw or used in treats like apple pie.

Vitamin C

Persimmons contain a lot of vitamin C. Just one persimmon can provide almost the entire daily requirement of vitamin C. They even have more than mandarins, making them useful for preventing colds and caring for your skin. Let’s get plenty of vitamin C and build a healthy body.

pumpkin

For Halloween, people hollow out orange pumpkins to make jack-o’-lanterns. Pumpkins are a representative vegetable often used for decorations and cooking. The pumpkins used for jack-o’-lanterns are called “pumpkins” (pumpkin variety) and are characterized by being larger and less watery than the common Japanese kabocha.

pomegranate

Pomegranates are a fruit that come into season in autumn, filled tightly with bright red arils. Each tiny seed is juicy, and their appearance is as beautiful as gemstones. When you pop them into your mouth, sweet-and-tart juice spreads out, letting you enjoy their distinctive flavor. They’re also delicious in juices and jams, or as a salad topping.

Aomori Prefecture

Aomori Prefecture is famous for the Aomori Nebuta Festival held in August. In autumn, when apples are in season, Aomori produces the most apples in Japan and is known as the “Apple Kingdom.” More than half of all apples in Japan are grown in Aomori.

smile (smilingly / with a smile)

A real Japanese pear variety is “Nikkori.” It was bred by crossing Niitaka and Housui, and its name comes from “Nikkō” and “nashi” (pear). The fruit is very large, notably sweet, and has a crisp texture. It’s harvested from mid-October to late November.

dango

During Otsukimi (moon viewing), there is a custom of eating dango shaped like the full, round moon and enjoying the moon. On the night of the full moon (Jugo-ya), perfectly round dango resembling the moon are offered. It has long been said that eating moon-viewing dango expresses gratitude for the harvest and conveys wishes for health and happiness.

An elongated rod shape

Chitose-ame, the candy eaten during Shichi-Go-San, is made in a long, thin stick shape to symbolize wishes for longevity and good health. Its colors are red and white, which are considered auspicious, and the candy embodies hopes for a long life and well-being. The bags that hold chitose-ame are decorated with lucky designs such as cranes and turtles, or the pine, bamboo, and plum motif.

chestnut

“Marron” means chestnut in French, and in Japan “marron” is also used to refer to chestnuts, especially in sweets and confections. Chestnuts used in Western-style desserts, such as Mont Blanc and marrons glacés, are often called “marron.” In Japan, chestnuts are also widely used in traditional sweets and dishes, such as kuri-gohan (chestnut rice) and kuri-kinton.