Japanese Food Tips

Watermelon is a very popular fruit eaten in the summer in Japan. Unlike in most of the world, its shape is spherical and it is not only red but also yellow. In addition to large watermelons, there is also, a smaller watermelon (kodama-suika) whose diameter is about 20 cm on average. Japanese watermelons are characteristically sweet. From looking at the kanji (Chinese characters) for watermelon – suika, which mean “Western gourd” - its origin seems to be from overseas. When I searched where watermelon originated, I found that Africa is the origin. It spread throughout Japan in the latter part of the Edo period (1603-1868). Many varieties came in from the United States in the Meiji period (1868-1912), and they have been improved and become widespread now. It is Japanese custom to eat watermelon chilled on hot summer days. When you are in Japan during this season, why not try it?