Maker’s Story: Kito Yuzu from Tokushima’s “Golden Village” Ogon no Mura
Maker’s Story: Kito Yuzu from Tokushima’s “Golden Village” Ogon no Mura
Published on 31 7 月 2024
Updated on 2 8 月 2024
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With the scorching sun making (heat) waves across Japan, one way to beat the summer heat is to refresh yourself with one of Japan’s favourite fragrant citruses: yuzu (柚子)! Hailing from Kito Village in Tokushima Prefecture of Shikoku, Maker Ogon no Mura (株式会社黄金の村) specialises in all things Kito yuzu (木頭ゆず), and their product 「木頭柚子」葛粉 (木頭柚子くずきり) is the perfect treat for this hot summer!
What is yuzu, what is kuzukiri, and where is Kito Village? JAPAN RAIL CLUB spoke to Ogon no Mura’s Sales Representative Mr. Okada (岡田) to find out more about the brand and the snack that is part of July 2024’s “Sizzling Summer” Omiyage Snack Box.
Hi Mr. Okada, thank you so much for your time! Please tell us more about your company Ogon no Mura.
★ At Ogon no Mura, we deliver the aroma and flavour of Kito yuzu to the world.
Our company, Ogon no Mura (meaning “Golden Village”), is based in Kito Village, Naka Town, Tokushima Prefecture. Nestled in the mountains, Kito Village is a 3-hour drive from the airport.
Although currently a small village with a population of less than 1,000, Kito Village holds a significant place in history. It was the first village in Japan to successfully industrialise the yuzu citron. We are involved in the entire process from cultivation to processing of the Kito yuzu, and we hope to bring the aroma and taste of this citron to customers all over the world.
Please tell us more about the history of Kito yuzu.
Have you heard of the Japanese saying:「桃栗三年柿八年、柚子の大馬鹿十八年」? Literally meaning, “A peach and a chestnut take three years, a persimmon takes eight years, and a yuzu takes 18 years”, it is a saying used to describe that it takes times for one’s actions to bear fruit, and even more so for yuzu!
Yuzu was once a citrus fruit that was considered difficult to cultivate and harvest stably. It was the members of the Kito Village Fruit Research Society who set their sights on this particular yuzu. In a harsh mountainous region where it was said that no industry could thrive, they dedicated their lives to improving the cultivation of yuzu. They managed to shorten the time it took for yuzu to bear fruit from 18 years to just 3 years, and developed techniques to stabilise distribution within 5 years.
Kito yuzu | Photo by Ogon no Mura
As a result, yuzu from Kito has gained recognition worldwide as the best quality yuzu in Japan! The Kito yuzu is the first fruit tree to win the prestigious Asahi Agricultural Prize (朝日農業賞) in 1977, as well as registered for the Geographical Indication (GI) Protection System in 2017. Today, Kito yuzu seedlings are used throughout Japan.
Yuzu is indeed a unique fruit recognised by many people in the world! Please describe to us Kito yuzu, Ogon no Mura’s flagship product.
The Kito yuzu’s unique aroma and sourness come from the special growing conditions in the Kito area, also known as its “terroir.” Three key factors contribute to this ideal environment: high rainfall, a large temperature difference between day and night, and the ideal altitude. These factors combine to create a climate perfectly suited for growing delicious Kito yuzu.
We focus on the most distinctive feature of Kito yuzu—its natural aroma! We have been developing a variety of products to introduce our yuzu to the world. Try our fresh Kito yuzu juice, ponzu sauce (ぽん酢 a Japanese citrus vinaigrette) yuzu cider, and yuzu kosho (柚子胡椒 citrus pepper paste)!
The Kito Yuzu Kuzukiri is one of the snacks in JAPAN RAIL CLUB’s “Sizzling Summer” Omiyage Snack Box! Please tell us more about it.
The Kito Yuzu Kuzukiri featured in this box is our most popular products in summer. While we were constantly trying to develop products that make the most of the aroma and freshness of Kito yuzu, we discovered the existence of the traditional Japanese confectionery “kuzukiri” (葛切り). By adding the aroma of yuzu to the kuzukiri’s smooth texture, along with slices of yuzu peel, we were able to create a product that is both pleasing to the eyes and palate. We recommend enjoying it chilled for its refreshing taste.
What are some of Kito’s local attractions and events that you would like overseas visitors to know about?
Not only do we run our yuzu business in Kito Village, we also run the KITO DESIGN PROJECT, a project that aims to create a livelier Kito area which will attract more visitors to Kito. We also operate the Mirai Convenience Store (未来コンビニ), the world’s most beautiful convenience store (winner of 11 international design awards), and NEXT CHAPTER, a guesthouse with both local and international staff await you.
We would be delighted if you could come and visit us in Tokushima and Kito, where the rich and unspoiled nature of Japan still remains!
*Mirai Convenience Store stocks the entire range of Kito yuzu products from Ogon no mura!
We are sure that our overseas readers and customers would be keen to buy Kito yuzu products directly from Tokushima! Where can we buy Kito yuzu products?
You can look for Kito yuzu products at the following locations in Tokushima:
Thank you so much for your time, Mr. Okada! Any parting messages to our overseas customers?
Our business with overseas customers has been increasing year by year, and we are now connecting with customers from 10 countries, including the USA, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand. We feel that Japanese yuzu is now one of the most widely known ingredients in the world, and we believe that love for yuzu will continue to spread!
We will keep delivering the taste of Kito yuzu to people all over the world!
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