Lemon Day

What Is Lemon Day?

October 5 is "Lemon Day" in Japan. It commemorates the death on October 5, 1938 (Showa 13) of Chieko, wife of the poet and sculptor Takamura Kotaro. Kotaro described Chieko biting into a lemon on her deathbed in his poem "Lemon Elegy," which was later included in his collection Chieko-sho (1941).

"Lemon Elegy" and Lemons in Literature

Lemons have appeared as memorable images in modern Japanese literature.

• "Lemon Elegy": The poem opens with the line "How long you had been waiting for a lemon." It describes a topaz-colored fragrance rising as Chieko bites the lemon, and a moment in which her mind seems to clear.
• Kajii Motojiro's "Lemon": In this 1925 short story, the narrator leaves a lemon on top of a pile of art books at the Maruzen bookstore in Kyoto and walks away - one of the best-known scenes in Japanese fiction.

Lemon Growing in Japan

Most lemons sold in Japan are imported, but lemons are also grown domestically.

• Hiroshima leads production: Grown mainly on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, Hiroshima Prefecture is Japan's top producer of domestic lemons.
• In season from autumn to winter: Green lemons appear around October and ripen to yellow over the winter, so Lemon Day falls right at the start of the domestic lemon season.

Lemon Trivia

• Vitamin C: According to Japan's Standard Tables of Food Composition, a whole lemon contains 100 mg of vitamin C per 100 g, while the juice alone contains about 50 mg per 100 g.
• The scent: The main aroma compound in lemon peel is limonene. Grated peel, or "zest," is used to flavor dishes and desserts.
• Cutting salt: Adding sourness such as lemon gives food more contrast even with less salt, so it is often recommended as a way to eat less salt.
• Origins: Lemons are thought to originate in the region from northeastern India to the Himalayas, spreading worldwide by way of the Mediterranean.

Ideas for Lemon Day

• Read Takamura Kotaro's "Lemon Elegy" - it is short enough for a coffee break.
• Make homemade lemonade or honey lemon.
• Squeeze lemon over fried chicken or grilled fish and use a little less salt or soy sauce.
• Look for domestic green lemons at the store.

Something to Remember on Lemon Day

October 5 is a day to rediscover a familiar fruit through a single poem. Reflect on the feelings Kotaro put into "Lemon Elegy," and bring a touch of the season to your table with a slice of lemon. Keep an eye out, too, for domestic lemons, which come into season from autumn into winter.