Japan seasonal food trends: Mikan harvesting and sweet potato evolution

Autumn seasonal food trends are emerging across Japan, highlighted by the start of the mikan (mandarin orange) harvesting season in Yorii Town and a shifting popularity in sweet potato varieties.

In Yorii Town, mikan harvesting is scheduled to run from October 20 through mid-December. The region, which has a cultivation history dating back over 400 years to the Tensho era, utilizes a unique basin topography to grow its signature sweet and sour fruit. Local orchards offer picking experiences, and specialized products such as mikan juice and baumkuchen are available at local hubs like Yotteco.

Simultaneously, the sweet potato market is experiencing a transition described as a ‘4.5th wave’ of popularity. Following the widespread success of moist, honey-like varieties such as ‘Beniharuka’ and ‘Silk Sweet’ that emerged in the early 2000s, consumer preference is shifting back toward traditional, fluffy, and starchy varieties like ‘Naruto Kintoki’. Additionally, new culinary trends are appearing, with sweet potatoes being used in creative dishes such as curries and gratins.