Ingen-mame

Ingen-mame (インゲン豆) is the word for green beans. The word is odd in that it seems to bear no resemblance at all to the western terms used to describe the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a plant native to Mesoamerica and South America. In fact, it almost seems like a Chinese name. In fact, it is. The bean is named after a Chinese monk, poet, and calligrapher, Ingen (隱元隆琦, Yinyuan Longqi in Chinese), who came to Japan in 1592 to spread a Buddhist sect, and apparently brought green bean seeds along with him.

Sakana

Sakana (サカナ) is the common modern term for fish. Interestingly, though, this originally meant something different: food to go with sake (rice wine). In fact, the "saka" in "sakana" is from "sake." The "na" means "a side dish," to the current word for fish actually means "a side dish to go with sake." This presumably happened because grilled fish was a popular accompaniment to sake. Incidentally, the older term for fish, which is still used at times today, is "uo," or in an older spelling, "uwo."

Kabocha

Kabocha (カボチャ) is the word for the pumpkin, and it has an interesting origin. The word comes from the name of a country, Cambodia. Though this is certain, nobody is quite sure of why this is so. One common explanation is that when a Portuguese first brought pumpkins to Japan in the 16th century, the people receiving them mistakenly thought the ship had come from Cambodia. In fact, the pumpkin is native to Central America.

Jagaimo

Jagaimo (ジャガイモ) is the word for the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) The imo part of the word is Japanese, and is used for other starchy vegetables such as the sweet potato. Interestingly, though, the jaga is derived from Jakarta, or the old name of the city, Jayakarta. The common potato entered Japan at the end of the 16th century, and the Dutch traders who brought it passed through Jakarta on their way to Nagasaki. As a result, the potato came to be known as the “Jayakarta potato.”