Japan's Champion Pumpkin to Challenge World Contest in California

This episode has to do with the size of a pumpkin, big enough to win the Japan Pumpkin Contest and possibly to reign in the upcoming World Pumpkin Championship in California this October.

The 29th Japan Giant Pumpkin Contest was held in Shodoshima's "Furusato Mura (Home Village)", September 20, and Kouji Ueno, 54, a company employee from Kamogawa, Chiba, won the championship for his third time in two years with a mammoth pumpkin, 561.6 kg in weight and 4.62 meters in circumference. The contest started in 1987.

43 contestants from 12 prefectures participated in the contest and  this summer's unusual heat and the sunshine helped grow larger pumpkins than in ordinary years. His strenuous efforts having paid off, Mr. Ueno came up with one giant pumpkin 100 kg heavier than the runner-up's.

Mr. Ueno and his pumpkin are invited to the World Pumpkin Championship slated on October 10 in California. U.S.A.

The Japan Giant Pumpkin Contest is held annually in Shodoshima, Kagawa Prefecture, permanently recognized by the World Pumpkin Association as the home of the Japan Giant Pumpkin Contest.

The contest first started by the Shodoshima Junior Chamber as a means of promoting Shodoshima, but now its management has been handed over to the contest's executive committee.

Contesting pumpkins meet in Shodoshima in September for the weigh-in and challenge the home championship. The winning pumpkin is offered as the extra price a trip to California to join the world contest. The champion pumpkin is entitled to participate in the World Contest to decide jumbo vegetables.

The whole project aims at motivating more people to appreciate and share the fun of growing vegetables. The Japan Pumpkin Contest's executive committee distributes at cost (participation fee included) both the Atlantic Giant Seed and culture manual.

News Souce: Yomiuri Shimbun