History

Panax ginseng was originally produced in the country called “Goryeo” (the origin of Korea), in the area around Changbai mountains between present northeast part of China and the north of Korean Peninsula. That is the reason why the name Korean ginseng was given.

The name used in Japan (Asian) originated from the fact that Bakufu suggested the cultivation of seeds of ginseng imported to Japan in the Edo period.

The cultivation in Japan started when artificial cultivation succeeded for the first time in the world at Edo-shogunate’s herb garden in Nikko at around the middle of Edo period.

The scientific name “Panax ginseng” originated from the panax meaning “panacea” in Greek and ginseng which is the pronunciation of carrot in Chinese.

 

Producing area

An appropriate environment for the cultivation of Panax ginseng is the place where the moderate amount of rainfall can be assumed and cool in summer, while underground freezes and cold in winter. In Japan, Panax ginseng is being cultivated mainly in Nagano Prefecture (Toshin region), Fukushima Prefecture (Aizu Basin) and Shimane Prefecture (Daikonshima Island).

Overseas cultivation is mainly in China and Korea.

According to the customs statistics in Japan, import volume of Panax ginseng in 2016 was 1,177 tones (11.6 billion yen) and was mainly imported from China, Korea and Taiwan.

 

Cultivating scene

  

References

Information on Panax ginseng―JA Saku-Asama

http://www.sas.janis.or.jp/~kyowa8/

Introduction and information of agricultural materials in Nozai.com

http://www.nouzai.com/news/2013/webdir/154.html

Import of Panax ginseng in the statistical report of customs clearance 2016 in the Ministry of Finance of Japan