TSUYAHIME from YAMAGATA - 山形 つや姫 2025 Crop

‘Tsuyahime’ from Yamagata

‘Tsuyahime’, a rice variety grown in Yamagata Prefecture, has consistently been awarded the highest rating of ‘Special A’ in the Japan Grain Inspection Association’s taste ranking for 16 consecutive years since its debut (up to the 2025 harvest).

Yamagata Tsuyahime is characterised by its refined flavour, rich in sweetness and umami (amino acids), and is often described as surpassing Koshihikari. Its beautiful, lustrous white sheen and uniform grains are also appealing; furthermore, it retains its shine and stickiness even when cooled, making it ideal for onigiri and Japanese cuisine.

The Shonai region, home to Tsuruoka City, is one of Japan’s leading rice-growing areas. Surrounded by the Dewa Sanzan mountains, Mount Chokai and the Sea of Japan, this vast expanse of land is nourished by meltwater from the mountains, and ‘Shonai Rice’, grown in this rich soil, is renowned as a premium brand.
Mr Watari’s dedication to his rice is second to none, and his crop has been certified as a ‘Specialty-Grown Agricultural Product’, cultivated with reductions of over 50% in both synthetic chemical pesticides and the nitrogen content of chemical fertilisers.

COMPATIBILITY
〇Traditional Japanese "kaiseki" meals ・ Natto etc.
△Fried rice, Paella, Pilaf, etc.