Kahoku Dropwort

Kahoku Seri is a water dropwort ⁽¹⁾ that features longer edible shoot length than general water dropworts.
　In the local area, Kahoku Seri has been a popular ingredient for pickles and ohitashi (vegetables boiled and dipped in soy sauce and soup stock) for the crispy texture of the stem near the root. Accordingly, Kahoku Seri has been highly rated by market participants for its long and thick edible shoots.
　The production volume of spring dropwort is small nationwide, since it is difficult to keep fresh given that it requires longer cultivation period and has shorter harvest season. Therefore, Kahoku Seri that can be also shipped in spring is recognized as a precious local product.

For the production of Kahoku Seri, native variety of Iinogawa River, Miyagi VWD-1, Shimiane Midori, and other varieties having the equivalent characteristics of these three varieties can be used.
　Cultivation is carried out using underground water in a dedicated paddy field with more than 30 cm water depth. Dropworts with a shoot length of 30 cm or more, and not markedly bruised or damaged by insects are shipped.

The producing area lies around Kitakami Mountains ⁽²⁾. With abundant supply of groundwater from the mountains, the area is suitable for water dropwort cultivation, which requires a large amount of water.
　Since ample water from underground circulates in the area, enough to fill the deep dedicated paddy fields for a long period of time, it is able to grow Kahoku Seri with long and thick shoots in the producing area. Prompt shipping adjustment is also implemented after harvesting, such as by washing the crops with great care using a lot of water to ensure freshness.
　Cultivation using underground water in dedicated paddy fields began around 1935, and by 1960, the long-term shipping/cultivation system was established, lasting from autumn to early spring in the following year.
　Through 1973 to 1974, dedicated paddy fields for dropworts cultivation were collected in specific place for the purpose of managing underground water and improving labor efficiency. In 1982, the shipping standard of shoot length was revised to 30 cm or longer.
　As of 2018, the number of farmer households involved in cooperative sales and shipment of Kahoku Seri is 25, and the shipping volume is 115 tons.

1. Water dropwort: A perennial herb native to Japan. Grows wild in moist areas such as ridges between paddy fields, and features unique, strong odor and texture.
2. Kitakami Mountains: A mountain range in the eastern Tohoku region that extends for little over 240 km facing the Pacific Ocean from the southern border of Aomori Prefecture to the northern border of Miyagi Prefecture. The elevation ranges from 800 to 1,000 m, with Mount Hayachine, near the center of the range, as its highest peak at 1,917 m. The range is bordered by the Kitakami River, the longest river in the Tohoku region in the west.