Aichi
Famous Local Products
Aichi's green Shiso (ooba)
Aichi is overwhelmingly ranked 1st nationally with a green Shiso (ooba) production of 4,020 tons, accounting for about a 50% national share. Centered in the eastern Mikawa region, including Toyohashi City, Tahara City, and Toyokawa City, year-round cultivation takes advantage of the mild climate and greenhouse horticulture technology. Since the 1970s, production areas have formed in response to commercial demand (as garnishes for sashimi and for Japanese restaurants), and various distribution forms such as frozen processing and packing are now established. Although it is a difficult item for pest management, the accumulation of cultivation know-how ensures a stable supply of high-quality leaves.
Aichi's Butterbur
Aichi ranks 1st nationally with a Butterbur (fuki) production of 2,790 tons, accounting for about a 45% national share. Aichi Wase fuki (Butterbur), cultivated mainly in Handa City and Higashiura Town on the Chita Peninsula, is characterized by its crisp texture and moderate bitterness, and is shipped nationwide as a Japanese food ingredient from spring to early summer. Greenhouse cultivation enables long-term shipping from October to May of the following year, and it also occupies an important position as an ingredient for traditional boiled processing.
Atsumi Peninsula's Cabbage
Aichi's Cabbage production of 272,700 tons ranks 2nd nationally (2023 crop), and the main producing area is the Atsumi Peninsula, centered around Tahara City. It held the 1st position for many years until 2022, but for the 2023 crop, it ranked second behind Gunma Prefecture (282,900 tons). With the development of the Toyogawa Canal, it has grown into a major production area for winter-spring Cabbage, mainly shipped from November to May. The two-major-producer structure, where Gunma handles summer-autumn and Aichi handles winter-spring, plays a role in stabilizing Japan's annual Cabbage supply.
Climate & Agriculture of Aichi
Aichi is a center of suburban agriculture, based on a mild maritime climate facing the Pacific Ocean and stable water resources from the Kiso Three Rivers (Kiso River, Nagara River, Ibi River) and Toyogawa Canal. With an annual average temperature of about 16°C and annual precipitation of about 1,500 mm, winters are relatively warm, allowing for both open-field vegetables and greenhouse horticulture. On the Atsumi Peninsula, the completion of the Toyogawa Canal (fully operational in 1968) transformed it from a water-scarce area into one of the leading greenhouse horticulture zones in Japan, where chrysanthemums, melons, tomatoes, Cabbage, and strawberries are cultivated. The Chita Peninsula utilizes its mild climate and proximity to the Nagoya market for multi-item production, while the eastern Mikawa region (Toyohashi City, Tahara City) is a major producing area for Cabbage, green Shiso (ooba), Butterbur, and tomatoes. Aichi's Cabbage production of 272,700 tons ranks 2nd nationally (the 2023 crop is second to Gunma Prefecture), and it is positioned to support the domestic supply of winter-spring Cabbage. Green Shiso (ooba) is overwhelmingly ranked 1st nationally with about a 50% national share, and Butterbur also ranks 1st with about a 45% national share.
Source: MAFF Crop Statistics (Reiwa 5 / 2023), JMA historical weather data
Agricultural Profile of Aichi
Aichi's agriculture is characterized by its depth, ranking around 8th nationally in terms of output value, but with many items ranking from 1st to 5th individually. It is known as a prefecture with an overwhelming share in the area of regional specialty vegetables that are not included in the main items of crop statistical surveys, such as green Shiso (1st nationally, 50% share) and Butterbur (1st nationally, 45% share). Although Cabbage yielded the 1st position to Gunma Prefecture in 2023, it continues to serve as the foundation of domestic supply as a main producing area for winter-spring Cabbage. Greenhouse horticulture on the Atsumi Peninsula has advanced into complex management of flowers (chrysanthemums rank 1st nationally), vegetables, and fruit trees, and the ratio of greenhouse horticulture to Aichi's agricultural output value is at a high level nationally.
Production Ranking
Source: MAFF Crop Statistics / Agricultural Census / MAFF Marine Fisheries Production Statistics / Forestry Agency Special Forest Products Production Statistics (2023)
Production Trends
Top 5 Ingredients Production Trend (2018-2023)
Source: MAFF Crop Statistics / Agricultural Census / MAFF Marine Fisheries Production Statistics / Forestry Agency Special Forest Products Production Statistics (2018-2023)
Nagoya Consumption
Source: Statistics Bureau, Household Survey (2024, Nagoya)
Seasonal Calendar
| Ingredient | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterbur | ||||||||||||
| Shiso | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | ||||||||||||
| Mitsuba | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | ||||||||||||
| Tomato | ||||||||||||
| Lotus Root | ||||||||||||
| Bok Choy | ||||||||||||
| Celery | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | ||||||||||||
| Onion | ||||||||||||
| Melon | ||||||||||||
| Persimmon |
* Season is based on domestic field-grown availability
Frequently Asked Questions
Which vegetables from Aichi rank 1st nationally in production?
They are green Shiso (ooba) and Butterbur (fuki). Green Shiso is at 4,020 tons with about a 50% national share, and Butterbur is at 2,790 tons with about a 45% national share, both being overwhelmingly 1st. The main producing areas are Toyohashi City, Tahara City, and Toyokawa City for green Shiso, and Handa City and Higashiura Town on the Chita Peninsula for Butterbur. Chrysanthemums, which are flowers, also rank 1st nationally, but these two items are representative among vegetables and fruits.
What is the national ranking of Aichi's Cabbage?
For the 2023 crop, it is 272,700 tons, ranking 2nd nationally. The 1st is Gunma Prefecture (282,900 tons). Aichi had been 1st for many years until 2022, but the rankings swapped for the 2023 crop. However, Gunma focuses on summer-autumn Cabbage and Aichi on winter-spring Cabbage, so their shipping seasons complement each other. The Atsumi Peninsula (Tahara City) is the main producing area.
What kind of agriculture is prominent on the Atsumi Peninsula?
The Atsumi Peninsula is the center of Aichi's greenhouse horticulture and large-scale dry field farming. Following the full operation of the Toyogawa Canal in 1968, it transformed from a water-scarce area into one of Japan's leading agricultural zones. Major items include Cabbage, green Shiso, Butterbur, tomatoes, melons, strawberries, and chrysanthemums (1st nationally in flowers), and the combination of a mild maritime climate and large-scale greenhouse horticulture is its strength.
Sources: MAFF Crop Statistics (Reiwa 5 / 2023), MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition (8th Revision, 2020), JMA historical weather data. Production figures use 2023 values.