is a generic term for
radish
The radish (''Raphanus sativus'') is a flowering plant in the mustard family, Brassicaceae. Its large taproot is commonly used as a root vegetable, although the entire plant is edible and its leaves are sometimes used as a leaf vegetable. Origina ...
in
Japanese language
is the principal language of the Japonic languages, Japonic language family spoken by the Japanese people. It has around 123 million speakers, primarily in Japan, the only country where it is the national language, and within the Japanese dia ...
. For example, European radish is called in Japan. In the West, the word ''daikon'' sometimes refers to
long white Asian radish varieties and sometimes Japanese radish varieties. When it is necessary to distinguish the usual Japanese form from others, it is sometimes known as Japanese radish
[Robert Bailey Thomas. ]
The Old Farmer's Almanac.
' p. 28. or .
Varieties
The most common variety in Japan (''aokubi-daikon'') produces an elongated root in the shape of a giant white
carrot
The carrot ('' Daucus carota'' subsp. ''sativus'') is a root vegetable, typically orange in colour, though heirloom variants including purple, black, red, white, and yellow cultivars exist, all of which are domesticated forms of the wild ...
about long and in diameter. Most Chinese and Indian forms are roughly similar.
The turnip-shaped giant white radish or
Sakurajima radish is cultivated around
Kagoshima
, is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 583,966 in 285,992 households, and a population density of 1100 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Etymology
While the ...
in Japan and grows as large as in diameter and in mass.
References
Asian radishes
Root vegetables
Japanese vegetables
{{Japan-cuisine-stub