Chestnut picking in Japan

Tomorrow and September 30th annually is Chestnut Day in Japan. Specifically Japanese chestnut, known as waguri in Japanese. Because it is currently chestnut picking season in Japan. Sometimes they are also called nihonguri. Kuri is the Japanese for chestnut and wa denotes Japanese. They are widely referred to as "marron", from the French for chestnut.

There are two main reasons why Japanese Chestnut Day is on September 30th. One, is because it is currently chestnut season nationwide. Two, the date. The 9th month denotes chestnut as nine (9) can be read kuri, and the  "30" denotes the circle (0) of three parties (3) of the grower, the confectioner, and the taster.  This is a new anniversary - it was only registered last year (2024), by the Japan Chestnut Association, a general incorporated association based in Ena City, Gifu Prefecture.

Chestnut picking is a fun thing to do, especially with kids, in Japan. There are chestnut farms and fruit farms that offer chestnut picking at this time of they year.  The photo attached to this post shows my children's harvest on one occasion when they picked chestnuts at a campsite in Ogano town, Saitama Prefecture. It was October 9th. They used tongs to pick, stash and open the chestnuts as Japanese chestnuts are very prickly on the outside. But inside they are smooth.

You can get many chestnut flavored desserts and foods in Japan all year round, but particularly at this time of the year. Mont blanc is particularly popular. Why not indulge in a Mont Blanc or other chestnut flavored treat, or better still, go pick some chestnuts this September 30th in recognition of Japanese chestnut day!?