４. Minakata Kumagusu and Ando Citrus
Now I have a story about Mr. Minakata Kumagusu and ando kans here. Minakata Kumagusu was a pioneer in the fields of botany and folklore in modern Japan, and an early representative researcher in botany, especially fungi, lichens, bryophytes, and algae. Hewas born in Wakayama castle town, and after studying in America and England, he lived in Tanabe from 1904 for 37 years, half of his life. When he was abroad, he ate grapefruits.And he thought Ando kans which were in the house of a samurai named Ando Jiemon in Tanabe,were better than grapefruits in foreign countries. He tried to make Kamiakizu an Ando kan producing area, and make Andokan a local specialty to make famers rich. So,his dear friend, the village mayor, Nakayama Unpyo, distributed about 50 seedlings of Ando kans to 20 farmers in Kamiakizu for trial production. There was a discussion about whether grapefruits and ando kans are the same variety or not. In the process of the discussion, grapefruits and ando kans were investigated in Kinki University in 2019, and it was proved that they are the same variety.And now, inheriting Kumagusu s passion,Mikan farmers in Kamiakizu proceeded to cultivate Ando kans for regional revitalization. |