さつまいも

さつまいも

Satsumaimo.

sweet potato

Japanese food-season note

Kawagoe City's official material identifies October 13 as さつまいもの日 (Satsumaimo no Hi) and connects the date with the city's sweet-potato culture.

Why this date: October 13 is Sweet Potato Day in Japan, during the autumn harvest season.

Language note: さつまいも (satsumaimo) means sweet potato. 焼きいも (やきいも / yakiimo) is baked sweet potato, a familiar autumn snack.

A seasonal word can carry a place, a harvest and a smell all at once.

DJW practice example:

焼きいもで、秋の味を楽しむ。

Yakiimo de, aki no aji o tanoshimu.

Enjoy the taste of autumn with a baked sweet potato.

Sources: