Nagasaki

Nagasaki is located in the western Kyushu region and is one of Japan's leading archipelago prefectures, comprising 1,479 islands including Tsushima, Iki, and the Goto Islands (remeasured by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan in 2023). Its total coastline length is ranked 2nd nationally after Hokkaido, and this complex topography creates diverse fishing and agricultural environments. The warm climate influenced by the Tsushima Current supports the growth of agricultural products, and Potato and onion cultivation is prominent on the Shimabara Peninsula and Nagasaki Peninsula. Potato harvest volume ranks 2nd nationally, with a strength in early shipping (shipped nationwide in spring as new potatoes). Nagasaki is a major producing area for Loquat at the 1st nationally level, with Loquat from the Mogi district of Nagasaki City being particularly well-known. The fishing grounds facing the East China Sea are a treasure trove of diverse seafood, and Horse Mackerel from Tsushima (Tsushima coastal ma-aji) has high fat content and is highly evaluated for sashimi use. Anago (conger eel) is a representative marine product of Nagasaki, with large landings around Goto, Omura Bay, and Nagasaki Port. In Nagasaki, ago-dashi (flying fish stock) is rooted in the food culture and is utilized in local foods including Nagasaki Champon. The Shimabara Peninsula is also a production area for vegetables and fruits utilizing volcanic soil and groundwater.

Source: MAFF Crop Statistics (Reiwa 5 / 2023), JMA historical weather data

The biggest characteristic of Nagasaki's agriculture and fisheries is that 'the geographical dispersion of islands creates a diversity of products.' Each of the 1,479 islands has a different marine environment, soil, and climate, producing products with distinct characteristics for each island, such as Tsushima's ma-aji (Horse Mackerel), Goto's anago (conger eel), Iki's onions, and the Nagasaki mainland's Loquat and Potato. This diversity of production areas, which can be called an 'island archive,' brings a range of items that cannot be realized by a single production area. On the other hand, it is also a Potato producing area of overwhelming scale ranked 2nd nationally, showing a strong presence with early shipping to the Kanto, Chukyo, and Kinki markets as spring new potatoes. The structure in which large-scale agriculture and small-scale, multi-item island agriculture and fisheries coexist forms the uniqueness of Nagasaki's food industry.