Protected local food
Zentsuji Square Watermelon
善通寺産四角スイカ
A cube-shaped watermelon from Zentsuji in Kagawa, grown inside a mould so it comes out square with neat vertical stripes. Prized as a showpiece and gift.
Key facts
- Registered as a protected name
- 14 June 2019
- Region
- Shikoku
- Official name in Japanese
- 善通寺産四角スイカ
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 香川県善通寺市
A watermelon shaped like a dice
Growers in Zentsuji place young watermelons in square moulds, and the fruit grows to fill them. The result is a cube with almost vertical, evenly spaced stripes. The unusual shape fetches high prices, and the city uses it as one of its signature gifts.
Decades of practice
Zentsuji in Kagawa is warm with little rain, good for watermelons. Local growers have been developing the moulds and methods since the late 1960s, and the growers' group passes the technique on so the area can produce square watermelons every year.
Mostly for looking at
Square watermelons are usually picked before they are fully ripe so the shape and colour stay perfect, and many are bought as ornaments for display rather than for eating. Ask the seller if you plan to eat one.
Good to know
- They appear in early summer. Look for them in Kagawa department stores, or in Tokyo's high-end fruit shops.
- In Kagawa, the real food icon is sanuki udon, and you can also try Sanuki white miso.
Questions travellers ask
How do they make square watermelons?
Young fruit is grown inside square moulds until it fills them.
Can you eat a square watermelon?
You can, but many are picked early for looks and kept as ornaments, so they may not be fully sweet.
Where it comes from
More protected foods from the same area
Crafts from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.