Showa Village Friendship Exchange Project Konjac Potato Growth Diary 2019

As a friendship and exchange project with Showa Village, Gunma Prefecture, Yokohama City has been cultivating and harvesting "Konjac potatoes from Showa Village" in Yokohama Park since 2014, in collaboration with Yokohama City, Showa Village, and Yokohama City Greenery Association.

Showa Village, Gunma Prefecture, a friendship exchange local government in Yokohama City, has the highest production of konjac potatoes in Japan!

In this growth diary, we will update the growth of konjac potatoes from planting in Yokohama Park to harvesting with photos, so please take a look.

Click here for planting (PDF: 221KB).

　On the day of the event, 36 elementary school students and parents from 18 groups selected by lottery by open call for participants participated, and a hands-on class was held to make konjac from konjac potatoes specially produced by Showamura.
　While teaching by a teacher from Showa Village, I first cut the konjac potatoes and poured them with lukewarm water. Next, put the liquid konjac potatoes in a bowl and knead them well until harden, mix the soda carbonate (coagulant) dissolved in hot water, and mix quickly and evenly. I needed power and patience, but I enjoyed the feel of konjac potatoes that solidified little by little and changed the feeling of touch. Cut the semi-solid konjac potatoes by hand and roll them, put them in boiling water in a pot and boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the distorted konjac, remove the crude heat with cold water, and complete it. In some cases, kitchen knives and fire were used, but everyone worked together to make delicious konjac while having fun safely. During the tasting, we received a lot of voices saying "Delicious!", And realized the difference between commercially available konjac and freshly made raw potato konjac.
　After the tasting party, there were stories and quizzes from Showa Village until konjac potatoes were made. In the konjac product quiz, they answered three questions that were made of konjac or not. I enjoyed the quiz while observing the appearance carefully and enjoying the quiz.
　Participants will be able to learn more about Showamura, a local government for friendship exchange with Yokohama City, through exhibits and quizzes of prize-winning works of the Showa Village Photo Contest, and konjac, a special product of Showa Village. Was.

　It is the appearance of konjac potatoes on the day of harvest. In the past, the soil of the flowerbed was covered with leaves that could not be seen, but almost all the leaves died and the ground became visible.
　Approximately 40 people from those who applied in advance participated in the konjac potato digging by lottery and were able to harvest a lot of konjac potatoes.
　After digging potatoes, a tour of a demonstration of making konjac by Showa Village.
　In the actual tasting of the konjac that was made, those who participated in the tour enjoyed the freshly made konjac, and many people said that it was delicious.

　When I thought Typhoon No. 15 had passed, Typhoon No. 19 came immediately.
　At the time of preparation for harvesting (withering period), the leaves have died, and the number of fallen has increased.
　I'm a little anxious, but I hope that the harvest time will come without anything.
　We have less than a month to harvest. There are only a few remaining, but please take a look at the konjac potatoes.

　Typhoon No. 15 has landed.…。
　The konjac potatoes were blown by strong winds.
　It was in a very difficult condition.
　However, we believe that we will endure until the harvest time in November.
　Please take a look at the konjac potatoes that are as competitive as the rain and wind.

　Even in August, as the heat of over 30 degrees continues every day, the konjac potatoes and the surrounding flowers are growing bigger and more energetic than the heat.
　As autumn approaches, some konjac potato leaves turn brown or yellow, and change. It seems that preparations for harvesting are progressing.
　But I saw some of them falling down from the base. It seems that konjac potatoes could not withstand the sudden changes in temperature due to abnormal weather this year.
　When I checked with the Showa Village Office, I was relieved that it was okay to leave it as it was.
　I hope that it will grow safely until the harvest time scheduled for November.
　Please take a look when you come to Yokohama Park.

　In August, as the intense heat of over 30 degrees continues every day, the konjac potatoes and the surrounding flowers are growing up as large as the heat.
　Some of them fell down from the base. You may not be able to endure yourself with the speed of growth.
　However, it seems that what has fallen can be left as it is. Let's watch as it is.
　Please take a look when you come to Yokohama Park.

　The leaves were so open that I could hardly see the soil of the flowerbed.
　It seems that there is a slope due to the difference in height of the Ikuko, the first and second graders, and a gentle slope is formed.
　When I looked into it from below, there was a beautiful forest.
　Please take a look at the konjac potato field that changes the scenery rapidly.

　It's even much different from last week's scenery. The leaves open large from every potato and the height is getting higher and higher.
　Recently, I thought that there was not enough sunlight due to the continued rain, but I wasn't worried.
　The rainy season is about to begin, and the season when you are exposed to plenty of sunlight is coming.
　Please take a look when you come to Yokohama Park.

　The scenery changed a lot in a week. The buds are growing long, and the leaves are beginning to open from most konjac potatoes.
　Rain does not fall so much, but it grows quickly only with natural rain without special watering.
　Please take a look at konjac potatoes that will continue to grow in the future.
　

　It looks like it is growing steadily every day, and the buds can be clearly seen even from afar.
　The length of the buds is about 10 to 20 centimeters. There were some konjac potatoes (lower left) where the leaves were likely to open.
　Due to the unusual shape, many people stop nearby and look at the fields.
　It's time for the leaves to open. Please take a look at the konjac potatoes that continue to grow reliablely.

　It is exposed to plenty of sunshine and occasional rain, and is showing surprising growth.
　I was able to see the buds coming out of almost all the potatoes.
　In addition, we were able to see the potatoes with open leaves, albeit small.
　Please take a look at the konjac potatoes that will grow rapidly in the future.

　We planted blue common sage and Pentas flowers around the konjac field. Surrounded by flowers, the field became very vivid!
From now on, we will continue to monitor the growth while weeding and watering.
　And it has not been a week since planting konjac potatoes, but the buds of konjac potatoes have come out!
Konjac potato that will grow rapidly from now on. It is a season when the climate changes are intense, but please come and see it.

Left: Konjac potatoes repeat "planting and harvesting" about three times. This is the baby of konjac potato "Kigo".
　　It's about 10 centimeters long.
Medium This is a first-year konjac potato. When planted this year, it will be a second-year konjac potato. About 7 centimeters in diameter.
Right: This is a second-year konjac potato. When planted this year, it will be a third-year konjac potato, which will be large enough to ship.
　　About 10 to 12 centimeters in diameter.

Upper left: Plow the soil and sow fertilizer.
Nakagami: Cut it out to make ridges.
Upper right: Plant konjac potatoes at equal intervals (emptied for two konjac potatoes) in the hollow of the ridge.
Lower left: All of them have been planted.
Nakashita: Cover the soil in a mountain shape so that the cultivation area of konjac potatoes can be distinguished from the passage.
Lower right: Planting is completed! It is completed by putting a signboard around the field.

　This year, we started growing konjac potatoes in Yokohama Park. (Click here for summary of planting (PDF: 434KB) (Yokohama-shi press release document))
We were blessed with fine weather on the day of planting, and we were able to finish the planting safely.
This year, we planted about 200 first- and second-year konjac potatoes and about 100 kigo.
The konjac potatoes planted in Yokohama Park are scheduled to be harvested around November, so please watch the growth together.
If you are coming around Kannai, please take a look.