An event was held on Okinoerabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, which is said to have the earliest potato harvest in Japan, to get people familiar with the specialty potato through a competition.
An event called the ``Japan Potato King Championship'' was held on the 24th at a sports field in Wadomari Town on Okinoerabu Island, with approximately 400 islanders participating.
Okinoerabu Island is a thriving area for growing potatoes, taking advantage of its warm climate and nutrient-rich red soil.Its harvest is said to be the earliest in Japan, and the potatoes are shipped all over the country under the brand name ``Spring Whisper.''
In addition to competitions to guess the weight of potatoes, participants competed in competitions to see how fast they could peel the potatoes, and to see how far they could throw unedible potatoes called ``greening potatoes.''
In addition, a corner was set up at the venue where people could bag as many potatoes as they wanted, which drew a large crowd, and a local band performed a song themed around potatoes from Okinoerabu Island.
One participant said, ``I think it's a good change of pace. It's the first place in Japan where you can eat potatoes, so I want to promote it nationwide.''
Organizer Takeji Ichiki said, ``We thought we could make a fun event by having an unusual competition using potatoes.''