長芋 / Nagaimo, or the Japanese yam

長芋是北海道特產品之一。事實上北海道是日本第一的長芋生產地，佔據了約50%的生產量。其中又以十勝地區為一大產地。北海道產的長芋會送往日本各地，然而近年因為向世界推廣和食以及藥膳料理的熱門，像海外輸出的量也持續增加。黏黏的口感為長芋的特徵。生食也不錯，也可以做成醬菜。用在御好燒上可達到蓬鬆的口感因此常被拿來使用。

Nagaimo, or the Japanese yam, is a specialty of Hokkaido. It is a little known fact that Hokkaido produces in the vicinity of 50% of Japan’s nagaimo crop, with the Tokachi area having the highest level of production by an overwhelmingly margin. Nagaimo are sent all over Japan, and their international export numbers have grown dramatically because of the recent popularity of Japanese cuisine and medicinal cooking. Raw nagaimo is possible to eat, with its signature sticky texture popular. Also,when making the famous Japanese pancake, Okonomiyaki, nagaimo is used to achieve a perfect degree of softness.

Photos from Wikipedia