Imoni-kai Day (Taro Stew Party Day)

What Is Imoni-kai Day?

October 2nd is "Imoni-kai Day" in Japan. It was established by the town of Nakayama in Yamagata Prefecture, known as the birthplace of the imoni-kai, and was registered by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2024. The date reflects the fact that imoni-kai is an autumn tradition, and a wordplay reading of 1-0-2 as "i-mo-ni."

An Autumn Stew Born at a River Port

An imoni-kai is an outdoor gathering where family, friends or coworkers meet on a riverbank in autumn to share a hot pot made with taro. It is popular across the Tohoku region, including Yamagata and Miyagi.

• Wordplay: 1 (i), 0 (mo), 2 (ni) can be read as "imoni"
• Purpose: to spread the word that Nakayama is where the imoni-kai began, and to attract visitors and new residents
• Milestone: Nakayama was founded on October 1, 1954, and marked its 70th anniversary in 2024
• Origin story: boatmen and merchants waiting for cargo at Nakayama, the last stop on the Mogami River, are said to have boiled dried cod and taro on the riverbank

The Smallest Town in Yamagata, With a Big Specialty

Nakayama lies near the center of Yamagata Prefecture and is the smallest municipality in the prefecture by area. In the Edo period it prospered through river shipping on the Mogami. Every autumn the town holds the "Original Imoni-kai in Nakayama," where visitors can taste the local "imo-bo-ni" stew of taro and dried cod.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Make a pot of taro stew at home
• Plan an autumn imoni-kai with coworkers or friends
• Look up the differences between Yamagata-style and Miyagi-style imoni
• Learn more about Nakayama, the birthplace of the imoni-kai

Sharing a Pot Brings People Closer

The imoni-kai is a Tohoku autumn custom that brings people together around a single pot. On October 2nd, why not enjoy a warm bowl of imoni and welcome the new season?