Although Japan is known for its rice cultivation and the importance of fish in the diet, there is another more unsuspected food which nevertheless occupies a prominent place among Japanese agricultural products: tangerines.
Mie Prefecture is one of the top 10 prefectures in Japan in terms of tangerine production.
Tangerines are known in Japan as “Mikan”, a term that includes both tangerines and other oranges.
For example, the 3D model above (which you can rotate in all directions), called “natsumikan” or “amanatsu”, is similar to a grapefruit in size and bitterness.
The natsumikan can be found in many gardens and backyards, and unlike many tangerines, it is harvested until late spring.
The slight bitterness of its flesh makes it perfect for making juices, and soothes the thirst triggered by the very first hot days of the year.