This article introduces the "Sunflower Watermelon" cultivated by the Hokuryu Sunflower Watermelon Producers Association. Sunflower watermelons are small yellow watermelons with a refreshing sweetness. In Hokkaido, they are only grown in Hokuryu Town.
Friday, September 26, 2025 The year is 2025, in Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido. Farmers are nurturing the summer sun from the winter snow. They join hands with their colleagues, talk to their seedlings, and pour their soul into each and every berry. Crack open the green, black-striped skin to reveal sun-colored flesh. It's a simple […]
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, and Wednesday, August 27, the Hokuryu Sunflower Watermelon Producers Association presented a sunflower watermelon to the hippopotamus at Asahiyama Zoo. The children from Wa Nursery School who participated were captivated by the sight of the hippopotamus biting into the watermelon whole with its big mouth.
On August 14th (Thursday), the 2025 Hokuryu Town Melon and Watermelon Festival was held, attracting huge crowds with long lines forming from early in the morning! The 350 boxes of "Sunflower Watermelon" were prepared, each with a sweetness of over 12 degrees Brix.
Friday, August 15, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Takada Akimitsu (@qiuguanggaotian)
On Thursday, August 14, 2025, the Hokuryu Sunflower Festival was featured on STV's "Dosanko Wide" during Fukunaga's live broadcast week! With 2 million sunflowers as a backdrop, announcer Shunsuke Fukunaga introduced the new local delicacy, "Sunflower Keema [...]"
On Friday, July 18, 2025, the harvest season for the local specialty "Sunflower Watermelon" reached its peak in Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido. At Takada Akimitsu Farm, each watermelon is carefully harvested, polished with the latest automatic brushing machines, and packed into boxes.
Thursday, July 10, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yuya Hoshino (@yuyahoshino.aie.0117) ◇
On Monday, July 7, 2025, the Hokkaido Shimbun Press (Sapporo City) published an article titled "Sunflower Watermelon Donated to Special Nursing Home by Hokuryu Farmers" on its website, Hokkaido Shimbun Digital. The article was published on July 4th, so we would like to share it with you.
On Thursday, July 3, 2025, the Kita Sorachi Shimbun, an internet site operated by the Kita Sorachi Shimbun Company (Fukagawa City), published an article titled "'Taste the Sweetest Sunflower Watermelon' - Hokuryu Producers Present to Eirakuen" (dated July 2). [...]
On June 30th (Mon) and June 28th (Sat), 2025, Hokuryu Town's specialty product, "Sunflower Watermelon," was featured on "Agri Kingdom Hokkaido NEXT (HBC Hokkaido Broadcasting)." Agri Kingdom Hokkaido NEXT: Hokuryu Town - Yellow Fruit [...]
June 21, 2022 (Sat) On the Hokkaido Broadcasting Corporation (HBC) website, a gourmet documentary site called “Agri Kingdom,” they posted an article titled “Pay attention to the ‘Hokuryu Town Sunflower Watermelon Edition,’ which will be broadcast on June 28 (Sat) next week!” (dated June 21) […]
On Saturday, June 21st and Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, HBC's "Hokkaido Agri Kingdom NEXT" covered the Hokuryu Town sunflower watermelon. Viewers received gifts, experienced harvesting and polishing, and sampled the watermelons. Agurikko celebrated the efforts of the producers and the sweetness and freshness of the watermelons.
June 16, 2025 (Mon) The first shipment of Hokuryu Town’s specialty “Sunflower Watermelon” was made on June 11 (Wed) and sent to markets in Sapporo and Asahikawa. This year’s crop was excellent, with a sugar content of 12 degrees. Takada, the association president, hopes to increase awareness of the yellow watermelon and expand production.
Monday, June 16, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative (JA Kitasorachi) (@ja_kitasorachi)
Monday, June 16, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akimitsu Takada (@qiuguanggaotian)
On Monday, June 16, 2025, the Kita Sorachi Shimbun, an internet site operated by the Kita Sorachi Shimbun Company (Fukagawa City), published an article (dated June 14th) titled, "Just like last year, the taste is excellent: First shipment of Hokuryu's summer delicacy, 'Sunflower Watermelon'." [...]
Friday, June 13, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Minorichi Hokuryu (@minorichi_hokuryu)
On Friday, June 13, 2025, an article titled "Shipping of Hokuryu Town's Specialty Sunflower Watermelon, Characterized by Its Yellow Flesh, Begins" was posted on the NHK Hokkaido WEB website operated by NHK (Tokyo). […]
On June 12, 2025 (Thursday), the Hokkaido Shimbun Press (Sapporo City) published an article titled "Yellow-fleshed, juicy Hokuryu 'Sunflower Watermelon' shipments begin" on its website, Hokkaido Shimbun Digital. […]