The storied history of the potato in Japanese cooking (2024)

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The storied history of the potato in Japanese cooking? ›

The earliest record of its cultivation as a food crop dates from 1706, when it was grown in Hokkaido. In the late 18th through early 19th century, potato production was encouraged as a way to combat famine when the rice crop was poor, especially in northern Japan, where growing rice was difficult.

The earliest record of its cultivation as a food crop dates from 1706, when it was grown in Hokkaido. In the late 18th through early 19th century, potato production was encouraged as a way to combat famine when the rice crop was poor, especially in northern Japan, where growing rice was difficult.

The potato was the first domesticated vegetable in the region of modern-day southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia between 8000 and 5000 BC. Cultivation of potatoes in South America may go back 10,000 years, but tubers do not preserve well in the archaeological record, making identification difficult.

Nikujaga is a Japanese dish consisting of meat (niku) and potatoes (jagaimo) as its main ingredients. Like most dishes in the Japanese cuisine, the meat is added for flavor, rather than substance.

Satsumaimo, or Japanese sweet potato, are everywhere in the fall, from trucks offering freshly roasted yakiimo (baked sweet potatoes) to convenience store treats and your local cake shop.

The Origin of Potatoes

The Inca Indians in Peru were the first to cultivate potatoes around 8,000 BC to 5,000 B.C. Potato History: The ancient civilizations of the Incas used the time it took to cook a potato as a measurement of time.

Potatoes were the first food ever to be grown in space. Potatoes are grown in all 50 states. The world's biggest potato weighed about as much as a small dog. In the 1800's, people traded potatoes for gold.

This superstition apparently comes from from the sixteenth century, when potatoes were first introduced to Britain. The belief arose that potatoes, because they grew underground, were the Devil's food. So to keep the evil at bay, potatoes were planted on Good Friday and watered with holy water.

Potato was domesticated some 6,000 to 10,000 years ago in the southern Andes of Peru, north from Lake Titicaca. The process is believed to have started from a set of wild species of the Solanum brevicaule complex (S. bukasovii, S. canasense and S.

Potatoes are Japanese for ジャガイモ(jyaga imo)、馬鈴薯(bareisyo). Other 芋(imo) are as follows.

Why do Japanese eat sweet potatoes? ›

The Sweet Famine Fighter

This is what led to sweet potatoes being grown in every region of Japan. Capable of growing even in poor or depleted soils and highly nutritious to boot, sweet potatoes have proven time and again to be a key source of nutrients whenever Japan has been hit by food shortages.

The common white potato first came to Japan at the end of the 16th century, on a Dutch ship via Djakarta (the capital of Indonesia today). In Japan, the city was called "Jagatara," which explains why the Japanese word for "potato" is jaga-imo (imo is a generic term for potato-like tubers).

The origin of the potato is the high Andes in South America, and it was introduced to European countries in the early 16th century. It was brought to Japan from Jagatara (Java) in 1601 by Dutch ships, and came to be called “jaga-imo (potato)”.

Satoimo/ 里芋 (Taro Root)

However, what makes this potato quite different from the other root vegetables is its slimy texture. Among other slimy textured food - like okra, natto, mozuku seaweed, the Japanese are fond of this satoimo, as we think that the sliminess has some health benefits.

The skin of Japanese sweet potatoes is edible. Japanese sweet potatoes can be peeled before using, but they're often prepared with the tender, nutritious skin on when baked or roasted.

In an attempt to solve the problem, an American freight forwarder is in the process of sending three aeroplanes filled with potatoes to Japan. The Japanese potato shortage was triggered by flooding at a port in Vancouver, Canada, which is a main hub for shipping potatoes to Japan.

Potatoes are not a staple in traditional Japanese cuisine but have become more popular in recent years, particularly as a side dish. They are less commonly seen on menus compared to other countries like China or Korea, where they are more widely used in dishes such as stir-fries or potato-based soups.

Introduction of Satsuma Imo (Sweet Potato) to Japan

This sweet potato is not native to Japan. Originally it came from Central South America. Then in 1605, it came to Ryukyu island (Modern day Okinawa ) from Philippines by way of the China. About 100 years later, in 1705, it started to spread widely in Kagoshima.