Yamagata

Yamagata is composed of a series of inland basins surrounded by the Ou Mountains and the Dewa Mountains, possessing agricultural zones with different topographical characteristics: the Yamagata Basin, the Yonezawa Basin, and the Shonai Plain. The Yamagata Basin (around Yamagata City, Tendo City, and Sagae City) can have a temperature difference of 10 to 15 degrees between day and night, creating favorable conditions that increase the sugar content of fruit. The annual sunshine hours are also among the longest in the Tohoku region, providing meteorological conditions suitable for cultivating fruit trees such as Cherry, La France, and apples. The Shonai Plain is an alluvial area formed by the Mogami River, with soil suitable for paddy fields containing a mix of sand and clay, making it the main production area for Tsuyahime and Haenuki rice. The Mogami River runs vertically through the prefecture and has played a role in creating different agricultural product brands for each basin. Cherry production is 1st nationally, accounting for about 82% of the national share. Western Pear (La France) production is also 1st nationally, with the majority of the domestic cultivation area concentrated in Yamagata. A type of Edamame called Dadacha-mame is a brand of beans permitted to be cultivated only in specific districts of Tsuruoka City, and is one of the unique agricultural products of Yamagata.

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

When looking at Yamagata from an agricultural perspective, what stands out is the topography behind the title of 'fruit kingdom'. Because multiple basins are blocked by the Ou Mountains and the Dewa Mountains, the characteristics of an inland continental climate are strengthened, and the temperature difference between day and night becomes large. This temperature difference is the core factor that makes the cultivation of multiple fruit items such as Cherry, La France, apples, and grapes possible. The dual pillars of ranking 1st nationally in Cherry and 1st nationally in La France show the accumulation of production areas that have utilized the same geographical conditions with different cultivation techniques for each fruit. On the other hand, the Shonai Plain is primarily for rice farming rather than fruit trees, establishing an independent brand as a high-quality rice production area for Tsuyahime and Haenuki. The dual structure of basins and plains, fruit trees and rice farming, creates the depth of Yamagata agriculture. Agriculture of place, which increases value by being limited to specific districts, such as Tsuruoka's Dadacha-mame, can also be said to be a characteristic of Yamagata.