Protected local food
Onnayama Daikon
女山大根
A giant red-purple daikon from Nishitaku in Taku, Saga. It usually weighs 4 to 5 kg, and some top 10 kg. It is an Edo-era variety that locals brought back from near loss.
Key facts
- Registered as a protected name
- 29 June 2022
- Region
- Kyushu & Okinawa
- Official name in Japanese
- 女山大根
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 佐賀県多久市西多久町
A giant, purple daikon
Onnayama daikon has a beautiful red-purple neck, coloured by anthocyanin. Grown to size it weighs 4 to 5 kilograms, and big ones pass 10 kilograms. Even so, the flesh is dense and rarely goes hollow. It is sweeter than the usual green-necked daikon and keeps its shape when cooked, so it is prized in simmered dishes, soups and dressed salads.
Brought back by locals
It is a native variety grown since the Edo period in Nishitaku-machi, Taku city, Saga. It nearly disappeared, and the community spent almost ten years bringing it back.
Basalt soil and clean water
The headwaters of the Ushizu River run through the area, so water is easy to get, and the soil, built on basalt, drains well. Daikon dislikes wet roots, so it thrives here.
Good to know
- Taku is home to Taku Seibyo, a Confucian temple built in 1708.
- Onnayama daikon is harvested in winter. Look for it at farm stands around Taku.
Questions travellers ask
Is the whole daikon purple?
The neck and skin are red-purple. The colour comes from anthocyanin.
How big does it get?
Usually 4 to 5 kg, and large ones exceed 10 kg.
Where it comes from
Crafts from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.