“Premium White” appeared on “Manten★Aozora Restaurant” (Nippon Television Network) which aired on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 6:30 pm!

Shinohara district is located along the Enshu Nada Sea, south of Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Here you can find “New White Onions,” which are amazingly juicy like fruit and have a mellow sweetness.

It’s called “Premium White.”

Image source: Lake Hamana Farmers Market

Shipment begins in the winter, which is said to be the earliest in Japan, and since it is rarely available on the market, it is also known as the “phantom new onion.”

This time, together with Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana tourism ambassadors, Ms. Yuto Hoshiyaku Yuto and Ms. Funa Shirai , we interviewed Mr. Takahiro Muramatsu, CEO of Confirm Co., Ltd., the producer of Premium White!

We asked him about the secret behind its deliciousness and the ingenuity used in its cultivation.

Shinohara District: Japan's fastest growing new onions

New onions are a seasonal vegetable that is often thought of as being available in early spring.

However, in the Shinohara district of Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, onions are harvested from late December through January, meaning that you can enjoy the freshest new onions in the country!

Among them, the “Premium White” cultivated by Muramatsu is a white onion characterized by its flat shape and pure white color.

Due to limited production, it is said that there is very little of it on the market.

Mr. Takahiro Muramatsu, CEO of Confirm Co., Ltd.

I visited in mid-January, during the still bitterly cold winter months.

Although the sea breeze was cold, the sunlight was gently warm and the clear winter air felt pleasant.

“Look, look at your feet. This is sandy ground, isn’t it?” Mr. Muramatsu said, and when I looked down, I saw a field that looked like smooth sea sand.

The Shinohara district along the Enshu Nada Sea is home to an expanse of sand that stretches from Nakatajima Sand Dunes, one of Japan’s three largest sand dunes, and is characterized by its good drainage.

In addition, the hours of sunlight here are longer than the national average, making it easier for the ground temperature to rise, which promotes the growth of high-quality onions and means that new onions can be harvested earlier than anywhere else in the country.

In addition, the use of mulch protects the onions from the cold of winter and UV rays, allowing for stable cultivation.

However, it is also true that cultivation conditions are easily affected by bad weather such as high temperatures and prolonged rain.

Although the land has good drainage, they are thorough in managing the water and soil, including watering according to the weather each day.

For the sake of productivity, Mr. Muramatsu has considered mechanizing planting and harvesting, but he smiles and says, “I think doing it by hand produces better onions and it suits me.”

I felt that what makes Premium White so delicious is not only the natural bounty of the land, but also the cultivation know-how that Muramatsu has accumulated through his many years of experience.

★Purchase here

Hamanako Farmers Market https://www.8075.jp/?mode=cate&cbid=2636822&csid=2

The secret to their freshness is early digging and morning harvesting

As a special treat on this day, the two tourism ambassadors also got to experience harvesting in the Premium White fields.

Premium White, ready for harvest, can already be seen in the soil.

“Got it!”

“Wow! It’s so white and beautiful!”

The two ambassadors exclaimed.

When the Premium White peeks out from the soil, you can see its freshness, just like fruit!

The Premium White grown by Muramatsu are harvested while the leaves are still green.

This method is called “early harvesting” and is characterized by harvesting when the fruit is less bitter and more moist.

Regular onions are grown in the soil until they are fully ripened and then harvested when the leaves have withered.

Allowing them to fully ripen in the soil apparently makes the flesh firmer and gives them a stronger, more pungent onion flavor.

“Premium White is harvested before it is fully ripe, which is why it has a strong juiciness and less harshness. Even if you bite into a freshly harvested fruit, it’s juicy and sweet.”

Just as Mr. Muramatsu says, when you try freshly picked Premium White onions, they have a freshness and sweetness similar to that of a pear, which completely changes your perception of onions!

What’s more, Premium White is picked that morning and shipped immediately on the same day, so it’s incredibly fresh!

Among them, the Premium White with leaves is the highest quality product and is harvested earliest.

Since only A-grade L-sized balls are selected, they are said to be popular as gifts.

Image source: Lake Hamana Farmers Market

Please try the amazing freshness that can only be experienced with products delivered directly from the source!

★Purchase here

Hamanako Farmers Market https://www.8075.jp/?mode=cate&cbid=2636822&csid=2

Recommended way to eat Premium White

It’s not spicy even when eaten raw! Premium White has a rich sweetness, flavor, and overflowing freshness.

First of all, we recommend eating it raw!

Image source: Lake Hamana Farmers Market

Classic sliced ​​onions.

Generally, it is soaked in water to remove the spiciness, but once you slice Premium White, do not soak it in water; we recommend eating it as is!

With its crunchy texture, freshness, and natural sweetness that fills your mouth, this is a dish that is sure to become addictive even for those who don’t like raw onions.

We also recommend a simple dish of heating a whole Premium White in the microwave and topping it with bonito flakes and soy sauce.

Image source: Lake Hamana Farmers Market

It’s so soft that it crumbles with chopsticks, and the texture and sweetness are so rich and melting that you can eat as many as you want in no time.

Of course, Premium White can also be used as the main dish.

Image source: Lake Hamana Farmers Market

Image source: Lake Hamana Farmers Market https://www.8075.jp/

Simply fry thick slices of Premium White in a frying pan with butter and season with salt and pepper to create the ultimate onion steak!

You can also add mushrooms or sautéed bacon to your liking.

By using Premium White, you can enjoy a luxurious taste that is a little different from usual even with classic menu items such as miso soup, curry, simmered dishes, and stir-fried dishes.

★Purchase here

Hamanako Farmers Market https://www.8075.jp/?mode=cate&cbid=2636822&csid=2

Premium White onions are produced using the blessed natural environment of the Shinohara region of Hamamatsu and the many years of experience and skill of producer Mr. Muramatsu, and have a truly exceptional taste that sets them apart from ordinary onions.