Fujisaki: Birthplace of the Fuji Apple

The Fuji apple, the most grown in the world, was first cultivated at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Horticultural Experiment Station Tohoku Branch built in 1938 in Fujisaki’s Shimobukuro area. Experimenters began developing new apple varieties from 1939, and from initial attempts grew 13,775 seedlings. After careful examination and selection, they received official recognition from the National Apple Convention Naming Qualifiers in March of 1962. In April, the apple was thrust into the spotlight when the ministry applied for product registration under the name Ringo Norin #1. In 1982 the Fuji officially outstripped the Delicious variety to become the most produced apple, and thus became #1 in both name and reality.