434 Kilograms Of Labu From Chiba Wins Championships In Japan

JAKARTA - Japan's 2024 labu weighing championship was held earlier this month on Shodoshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture, with a giant shark weighing 434.6 kilograms from Chiba Prefecture winning the grand prize.

A total of 40 labs were brought in from nine prefectures across the country. The winner, farmer Teiichi Suzuki from Chiba Prefecture, secured qualifying place for the World Labu Weighing Championships in California in the coming fall.

All types of labs that are ranked high in prefectural championships, from large labs weighing several hundred kilograms to small labs with special attention to shape and color, were exhibited at the venue, reported by Kyodo News Oct. 1.

Giant labs are lifted with forklifts and are carefully placed on scales one by one to weigh.

Suzuki himself has cultivated labs for 13 years. However, this is his first participation in the national competition.

The farmer said he had dug deeper when he overturned the ground this year and added a thicker layer of compost. To protect the labuh from the hot summer, he puts on a smoothed Sunlight shield and uses a fan more effectively than in previous years.

As a result, Suzuki was able to produce champions, which measures a circumference of about 430 centimeters and a height of 72 centimeters.

"To be honest, I am very happy," said Suzuki.

"I want to thank my mentor for his attention while teaching me how to repair the land, as well as to my family for their support," he continued.

"I want to overcome the challenges and continue to grow bigger labs," he added.

Meanwhile, local farmer Shodoshima Kiyoshi Hirai produced the island's toughest lab with a weight of 338.9 kg, which first surpassed the 300 kg limit there.

"All of this thanks to staff who have deployed all their capabilities to manage planting in our farm. Now that we have successfully crossed the (300 kg) limit, I hope this will be an opportunity to build momentum in Shodoshima," Hirai explained.

Meanwhile, Yoichi Naka, who helps with planting, said, "This makes me realize once again the importance of preparing the land. I will continue to work hard to grow labs."