Names and Distributions of Sliced and Dried Sweet Potato in Western Japan

—A Focus on Kankoro—

Abstract

In many areas of Nagasaki, sliced and dried sweet potatoes are called kankoro. Although this peculiar name exists in regions outside Nagasaki, it is unclear whether its meaning in these regions is inclusive of its method of production. Therefore, in this study, we clarified the names and distribution of sliced and dried sweet potatoes in areas of western Japan.
A questionnaire regarding the name and existence of sliced and dried sweet potatoes was delivered by post to a total of 691 locations (administration agencies and board of education) in each prefecture and municipality along the coast of western Japan. Based on the questionnaire responses, individuals with considerable knowledge about the local food culture were selected and interviewed.
The most common name of sliced and dried sweet potatoes was hoshiimo, which was widely distributed in western Japan. The name kankoro had spread in a belt-like area from the northern part of Kyushu to the Seto Island Sea coastal region. Furthermore, although the name kankoro was associated with sliced and dried sweet potatoes, its method of production was different in the investigated areas.