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00:11 Japan has over 100 varieties of peaches.
00:15 Generally quite large and perfectly round.
00:20 They're sweet and famed for their soft, juicy flesh.
00:26 [Music]
00:31 Fukushima, in the Tohoku region, is a major fruit growing area.
00:35 Its peach harvest is Japan's second largest, and much has always been exported.
00:41 The 2011 earthquake and disaster dealt a severe blow to the area's peach exports.
00:52 However, today, these fruits are confirmed to be completely safe, and sales are booming again.
00:57 In addition, thanks to leading-edge inspection equipment using optical sensors, Fukushima peaches are even higher quality.
01:08 Export volumes are greater than before the disaster, driven by high demand from Southeast Asian and European markets.
01:19 [Music]
01:24 The town of Kori produces Fukushima's best peaches.
01:28 There are over 350 orchards here.
01:31 A road called the Kori Peach Line takes you right through most of the town's peach groves.
01:48 This one belongs to Tomosuke Minami and his son.
01:51 Tomosuke has been a peach farmer for nearly 60 years.
01:57 My dream is to grow the best peaches in all Japan.
02:04 The more people who want to buy my peaches, the prouder I'll be.
02:08 Kori's well-drained soil and warm temperatures make it ideal for peach cultivation.
02:16 Yes, this is the perfect place to grow really sweet and delicious peaches.
02:21 One of the varieties the Minamis grow is the Akatsuki.
02:27 The Akatsuki's high sugar content makes it especially sweet.
02:33 It's a very juicy fruit, and because it's easy to grow, this Fukushima peach is now cultivated nationwide.
02:39 It's the best.
02:44 It's so good, the Akatsuki is the peach supplied every year to the imperial household.
02:49 From a crop of 120,000 peaches, optical sensors select the best 600, judged by conditions such as sweetness and size.
03:02 Next, a panel of experts picks out the 180 with the most perfect color and shape.
03:10 The chosen peaches will be shipped to the imperial palace.
03:13 On a tour of Fukushima after the 2011 disaster, the emperor and empress made a point of visiting the Minami family orchard to thank them personally.
03:25 There's no greater honor than to be chosen to supply the emperors' peaches.
03:34 As you cut the fruit, be careful not to drop it. At this popular event, you can pick your own peaches and enjoy them fresh from the tree.
03:43 I got a good one. It's so fresh, so sweet and good, and very juicy.
03:51 Safe and incomparably tasty.
03:59 Whichever way you choose to serve a Fukushima peach, you can be sure it will bring delight.
04:06 Fukushima Peach. You can be sure it will bring delight.
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