Satsumaimo, the Japanese Sweet Potato
Hacker, Randi
Hacker, Randi
Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract
Broadcast Transcript: This is Randi Hacker with another Postcard from Asia from the KU Center for East Asian Studies.
Asia is a rice culture. And, here in Japan, you might say there is a satsumaimo sub-culture--that is, a culture of the Japanese sweet potato. Back in the mid-18th century, rice crops failed which was bad. Then a man named Aoko Konyo began cultivating satsumaimo plants. They quickly became wildly popular. From the 1920s to the 1980s, the Showa period, peddlers sold roasted sweet potatoes from pushcarts during the colder months. Students have enjoyed daiguku imo (university potato) deep fried, dipped in syrup and rolled in sesame seeds since the 19th century and imo hori, or potato digging, is still a popular kindergarten field trip. And you can even get imo gohan, potato rice. Now that's Asian fusion.
From the KU Center for East Asian Studies, this is Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.
#Japan #Hacker #CEAS
Description
This is one of hundreds of 60-second radio spots created by the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) for Kansas Public Radio (KPR). The purpose of this outreach program is to introduce the people of Kansas to the culture and current issues of East Asia.
Date
2013-12-11
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Center for East Asian Studies, University of Kansas
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Japan, Satsumaimo, Sweet potato, Showa period, Daiguku Imo, Imo Hori, Imo Gohan, University potato, Potato digging, Potato rice, Aoko Konyo, Rice culture