Shimo Farm - Washed Raw Black Sesame Seeds 70g - Product of Miyazaki Prefecture

High Quality Pesticide-Free Japanese Sesame Seeds
“Mimatan Sesame”

Mimatan Sesame seeds are grown in warm climates and well drained soil.

This sesame is produced in the Miyakonojo Basin at the foot of the Kirishima Mountains in Southern Kyushu, where the legend of Tenson Korin remains, and in Mimata Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, to the south of the Miyakonojo Basin.

Mimata Town, Miyazaki Prefecture is said to be a "town of flowers, greenery and water" and is very suitable for sesame cultivation conditions because it is warm throughout the year and has good drainage in shirasu soil.

The reason why sesame seeds in Mimata are delicious is that they have good quality water and the natural ecosystem where the soil is maintained. In the old Edo period, sesame was exported to Kansai as a cash crop from this area.

The sesame seeds of Mimata Town have been revived to the present. We hope that people all over Japan and the world who are living today will know and eat this precious gift that nature has nurtured.

It is said that 99.9% of the sesame currently consumed in Japan is imported. Mitan sesame is a safe and healthy Japanese sesame that does not use pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

People smile when they eat delicious foods and foods that they know are good for them. Based on that smile, we will continue to make safe and healthy sesame seeds by a cultivation method that does not use pesticides or chemical fertilizers so that people of all ages can enjoy it.

Special Feature of Washed Raw Sesame Seeds

This sesame is produced in the Miyakonojo Basin at the foot of the Kirishima Mountains in Southern Kyushu and in Mimata Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, to the south of the Miyakonojo Basin. The location is blessed with delicious and abundant water from Kirishima Mountains, it is cultivated in the most suitable environment for sesame plants, combined with the warm and well-drained environment of the Shirasu plateau.

Furthermore, in order to deliver safe and healthy sesame, we cultivate it without using pesticides or even chemical fertilizers. Most of the harvesting and sorting are done by hand, which takes a lot of time and effort, but we work carefully one by one for the sake of our customers.

Since the product is in the state of raw sesame, you can roast it yourself in a frying pan, etc. to finish it to your taste.

The Birth Story of Mimatan Sesame Seeds

In December 2008, the Kirishima Organization was established in Mimata Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, formed by former office workers. Starting here, the production of domestic sesame that makes the best use of the nature of Mimata has begun.

Initially there were 22 members and only 2 experienced farmers, but as a result of hard work and efforts to produce sesame for the region, the number of farmers is increasing to 35 now. The enthusiasm is only growing from there. (The production scale is expanding year by year to 1.3ha in 2009, 2.7ha in 2010, and 17ha in 2011.)

The production cost of sesame can be kept low, and the damage to birds and other animals is relatively small.

Kirishima Organization uses abandoned cultivated land to thoroughly cultivate without using pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and thins out, planting, and harvesting work mainly by hand.

“The youth” with an average age of 65 are trying to pave the way for new agriculture in Mimata and pass it on to their children.

Development Using Stems And Leaves

If the sesame seeds themselves are abundant in nutrition, we believe that the stems and leaves that nourish the seeds may also contain the same ingredients.

Currently, in collaboration with a local university, we are conducting a component analysis survey using young leaves and stems in the process of sesame growth.

Cooperation Between Agriculture, Industry, Commerce, And Tourism

As an area that specializes in sesame production, we start with cultivation and harvesting, then we manufacture products from the ingredient for distribution. Lastly, we also develop recipes using sesame seeds.

With the cooperation of public facilities, educational facilities, and local businesses, we will carry out initiatives to create an environment where you can enjoy sesame seeds in your daily life.

We Aim To Be The Best Sesame Producing Area In Japan

Sesame town development officially started after sesame was certified as a local resource in Miyazaki Prefecture by the Small and Medium Business Administration in November 2010.

In order to spread it inside and outside the prefecture, it is necessary to create elements that add value, and we will aim for the highest production volume in Japan to the extent that it has the potential to be the best.

Unexpectedly Unknown Knowledge of Sesame Seeds

Growing sesame means knowing sesame. We will introduce knowledge about sesame seeds that we get from developing the product.

Surprisingly, There Are Multiple Varieties Of Sesame

Sesame can be roughly divided into three types: white, black, and gold, depending on the color of the exodermis of the seed. However, it is said that there are about 3,000 varieties cultivated all over the world.

The Origin Of Sesame

Sesame is an ingredient originally brought from overseas. The original place of origin is said to be Africa.

It is said that it came to Japan during the Jomon period or around the introduction period of Buddhism.

Sesame has taken root in people's lives as a food culture and has been cultivated all over Japan except Hokkaido.

Current Sesame Production Situation In Japan

Unfortunately, due to poor productivity and poor mechanization, sesame production in Japan continued to decline.

Currently, 99.9% of sesame in Japan is imported from Africa such as Nigeria and Burkina Faso, Central and South America such as Paraguay and Bolivia, and China. Current sesame production in Japan is only 0.1%.

However, even under such circumstances, Mimata Town, Miyazaki Prefecture meets the conditions for growing good quality sesame seeds. We will deliver pesticide-free sesame that is cultivated with passion and hope in order to deliver safe and healthy sesame to everyone.

The Difference Between White, Black And Gold Sesame

White sesame

It is light beige, has a sweet taste, and the fragrant aroma is not very strong. It is often used in sesame oil because it contains a relatively large amount of fat.

Black sesame

It has a lot of aromatic components and a strong scent. Although it is low in fat, it has a high proportion of seed coat and contains calcium and manganese, and is often used in confectionery, mixed with salt and pepper, or used as rice cracker topping.

Gold sesame

It is a rare sesame with a small amount of production. It has a strong scent and contains antioxidants.