This is the first installment of a special project where Domingo collaborates with a Hokkaido town for one month. This time, we're focusing on Abira Town!
Over four weeks, we'll bring you information on how to enjoy the town and its special local products.

The specialty product from Abira we're introducing today is the "Asahi Melon" from the Oiwake Asahi Melon Association.
harahachifarm Website
Abira Town Furusato Choice

What is an "Asahi Melon"?

The Asahi Melon is one of Hokkaido's representative brand-name melons, produced in the Oiwake district of Abira Town.

Photo courtesy of JA Tomakomai Kouiki

It's a red-fleshed, netted melon, prized for its high sugar content. This sweetness is achieved through the significant temperature differences unique to Abira, proper temperature management by the growers, and soil perfectly suited for melons, based on well-drained volcanic ash soil.

The History of Asahi Melons

The story of the Asahi Melon began in 1964, when three farmers in the Asahi district of the former Oiwake Town, a hilly and mountainous area, decided to cultivate a new crop.

The high quality of Asahi Melons is the result of over 50 years of continuous research and improvement. Today, 25 dedicated growers produce these exquisite melons.

By cultivating three varieties suited to Abira's climate—"Lupia Red," "Tiara," and "Red 113"—delicious Asahi Melons can be enjoyed over a long season, from May to October.
Lupia Red is shipped from mid-May to mid-August, Tiara from early July to mid-August, and Red 113 from mid-August to around October.

The melon featured in our current giveaway campaign is the "Lupia Red." This variety has a fine, beautiful net pattern on its skin and firm flesh, which gives it a relatively long shelf life.

The Dedication Behind Asahi Melons

The most defining feature of the Asahi Melon is, without a doubt, its sweetness.

Strict standards are in place: only up to four melons are grown per plant, and any melon with a sugar content below 14 degrees Brix cannot be shipped.

Only high-quality melons that pass this rigorous inspection are sold as "Asahi Melons."

The growers themselves act as their own "demon inspectors," conducting fair and impartial checks, which further motivates them in their cultivation efforts.

A grower conducting the strict "demon inspection"

Because the growers handle everything from seeding to selection, the quality of Asahi Melons is exceptionally high, allowing them to flourish as a premium brand.

When is the Best Time to Eat an Asahi Melon?

Asahi Melons are ready to eat when the tip of the vine has withered!

A ripe Asahi Melon

They say that over-chilling can dull the sweetness, so it's best to put the melon in the refrigerator about two hours before you plan to eat it!

Be sure to check them out on their websites!

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