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Japanese radish facts for kids

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Japanese radish (true daikon)
Radish-RA.jpg
radishes in Okage Yoko-chō, Japan
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 日本蘿蔔
Simplified Chinese 日本萝卜
Literal meaning "Japanese radish "
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin rìběn luóbo
Wade–Giles jih-pên luo-po
Korean name
Hangul 왜무
Literal meaning Wae radish
Transcriptions
Revised Romanization waemu
McCune–Reischauer waemu
Japanese name
Kanji 大根
Kana だいこん
Transcriptions
Romanization daikon

Daikon (大根, literally "big root") is a generic term for radish in Japanese language. For example, European radish is called hatsukadaikon (廿日大根) in Japan. In the West, the word daikon sometimes refers to long white Asian radish varieties and sometimes Japanese radish varieties. When it is necessary to distinguish the usual Japanese form from others, it is sometimes known as Japanese radish or "true daikon".

Varieties

The most common variety in Japan (aokubi-daikon) produces an elongated root in the shape of a giant white carrot about 20 to 35 cm (8 to 14 in) long and 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) in diameter. Most Chinese and Indian forms are roughly similar.

The turnip-shaped giant white radish or Sakurajima radish is cultivated around Kagoshima in Japan and grows as large as 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 45 kg (100 lb) in mass.

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