Sobu Plum Blossoms and Sobu Pond Plum Grove

＜The Origin of Sobu Plum＞ In the early Meiji era, a local man named Kamezō Wanibe from Sobu is said to have grafted plum onto a peach tree to create the Sobu plum. Recent genetic studies suggest that Sobu plum was actually produced by grafting a hybrid or mutant variety onto peach rootstock. Thanks to this research, Sobu plum was confirmed to be a genetically fixed variety and was designated as a Natural Monument of Chita City in October 2019. ＜Characteristics of Sobu Plum＞ The flowers of Sobu plum are small, single, and pale pink. A single tree produces a relatively large number of flowers. The petals have slightly pointed tips when they first bloom, giving the appearance of small pink stars. This is distinct from other plums, whose petals tend to be rounded. In early June, the tree bears many fruits. The seeds are flat and small, so the fruit flesh is relatively thick. The plums have a distinctive sourness perfect for pickled plums (umeboshi), plum wine, and plum syrup. ＜Uses of the Plum Fruits＞ Outdoor Activities at Sobu Elementary School Each year, all students and their guardians from Sobu Elementary School pick plums in the Sobu Pond Plum Grove, selling them to local residents. The school’s library is called the "Plum Fruit Library," funded by these sales, having purchased over 13,000 books to date. Part of the proceeds is also used for the conservation and management of the plum grove. Exciting Plum Picking Event Due to the declining number of students, some plums were left unharvested. Since 2017, the Chita City Tourism Association, with local cooperation, has been holding a paid "Exciting Plum Picking" event, attracting many participants. The revenue supports the grove's conservation. ＜Sales of Sobu Plum Products＞ Locally grown Sobu plums are processed and sold as plum wine, pickled plums, sweets, and other products by local businesses.