2021.06.17

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover, or a Tomato by Its Dark Spots – These Japanese Tomatoes Are the Sweetest of All!

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The people of Japan are as picky about produce as anywhere, but one man has helped find a place for “ugly tomatoes” that have gone to the “dark side.”

Tomatoes may have originated from the Americas, but they're now a commonplace supermarket staple around the world, and that certainly includes Japan. Of course, grocery shoppers in Japan look for the qualities in a tomato as anywhere else, too. We all want a fresh, sweet tomato, with a smooth, vibrant red, unblemished skin. Most consumers assume that a tomato with ugly dark spots on the skin will be tasteless, or worse, dangerous.

Image Source: Soga Farm

But it turns out that dark spots on a tomato skin don't necessarily mean danger. In fact, tomatoes with these unsightly blemishes usually aren't shipped out to supermarkets because shoppers avoid them, but they're still fine in terms of both nutrition and flavor. In the end, they're used in huge quantities for juices and all kinds of processed foods.

For farmers who are likely to get a better price on tomatoes sold at supermarkets, however, it seems a shame to hide the "ugly tomatoes" away in factories when they're perfectly good. So one Japanese farmer recently decided to tackle this problem in a unique way, and give the tomatoes a brand new look, so to speak.

Image Source: Soga Farm

Soga Farm has begun to sell these tomatoes as "yamiochi tomato" (闇落ちとまと), meaning "dark side tomatoes." Yes, that dark side. The text tells us that the tomatoes "have above average attributes, but have fallen to the dark side just like Annakin Skywalker, the poor things!"

As the Jack-o-lantern tomato is saying, "we're actually the sweetest of all!"

Image Source: Soga Farm

It's hard to believe the claims of sweet and juicy flavor when looking from the outside, since we're all so used to avoiding imperfect produce, but it's easier to understand when you cut one of the dark side tomatoes in half and see the perfectly delicious looking interior.

In an interview in Japanese with Huffington Post, Soga Farm owner Shinichi Soga explains that when you restrict the water of tomato plants―an important part of producing particularly sweet and delicious tomatoes―these kinds of tomatoes, replete with ugly dark spots, are simply inevitable. It's not disease or true rot, it's just a natural process. But since the effects of the water restriction are seen so strongly on these ugly tomatoes, they also tend to be particularly tasty. If you just cut the spots off and use the rest like normal, you'll end up with some great tomatoes.

今度闇落ちトマトちゃん置いてあったら選んでみようかなあ🥺🥺🙏 https://t.co/t1LauiOfcM

— はるぢゃん🍒 (@kawakawa_1111) May 22, 2021

Of course, this kind of marketing is difficult to communicate on a broader scale, and with COVID-19 having unexpected effects on markets of all kinds, Soga Farm is looking for new ways to sell their "dark side tomatoes." At the moment, they're sticking to places like farmer's markets or similar environments, where they have the chance to explain the "ugly tomatoes" to customers directly, without the risk of misunderstanding.

The internet is clearly hoping Shinichi Soga will change his mind, though. When Soga Farm shared pictures and wrote about their dark side tomatoes on Twitter, the tweet was retweeted more than 50,000 times in just six hours, and started to attract some real attention. Comments started to pile up, with plenty agreeing that whoever had named the dark side tomatoes "has great taste," and even more netizens longingly hoping to try the tomatoes themselves.

All in all, the post was a bit of a revelation for many Twitter users, who saw tomatoes in a new light. In the world of produce, looks aren't everything! The tomatoes may have turned to the dark side, but they sure helped us all see the light

こういうことできる方
マジでガチで尊敬です
もはやアート、アート😍❤️❤️
ユーモアとアートが共存です🤣🤣
闇落ちトマト🍅🤣🤣
ヾﾉ*>ㅅ<*)ﾉｼﾊﾞﾝﾊﾞﾝﾊﾞﾝﾊﾞﾝ …!🤣👀🤣 https://t.co/S3i4c5z2uU

— りさまま🌈看護師の立場から世の中に発信したい (@lisa_mamanurse) May 22, 2021

Also, there was some good dark side tomato fanart!

For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

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  The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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  Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
- SHIKOKU
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  On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
- KAGAWA
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  Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
- KYUSHU
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  Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
- FUKUOKA
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  Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
- KAGOSHIMA
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  Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
- OKINAWA
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  The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.