Vietnamese Lychee Exported to Japan for the First...

This year, Vietnamese lychees are being exported to Japan for the first time, attracting attention domestically in Vietnam. Until now, almost all lychees available in Japan—except for a few Japanese-grown ones—have been imported from China. Depending on their reception in Japan, plans are in place to gradually increase export volumes.

Lychee may be an unfamiliar fruit for many in Japan, though many people may have tried it in processed forms such as jelly or beverages. Often associated with China, partly because it is said to have been loved by Yang Guifei, lychee is actually grown only in limited regions even within China, making domestic supply insufficient. As a result, large quantities of Vietnamese lychees are exported to China each year.

At AEON supermarkets in Japan, a pack of 10 lychees sells for around 500 yen. Taste reviews have been positive, and marketing staff expressed hopes to expand the market further. However, living in Vietnam, 500 yen for 10 lychees feels quite expensive. Since it is an imported product, various costs are added along the way, and knowing the local Vietnamese prices makes it hard to buy casually. The same goes the other way around for Japanese imported products sold in Vietnam.

In Vietnam, lychees are typically in season from mid-May to the end of June. During this period, they are sold not only in supermarkets and fruit shops but also directly from trucks at roadside stalls. At roughly 200 yen per kilogram, it is unlikely that sellers would agree to sell only 10 fruits.

Interestingly, eating too many lychees can be harmful, potentially causing diarrhea, vomiting, or fever. This is sometimes called “lychee disease,” and it is generally recommended to limit consumption to about 10 fruits per day. Perhaps coincidentally, the AEON supermarket pack contains exactly 10 lychees.

I have loved lychees since childhood but rarely had the chance to eat them fresh. Since moving to Vietnam, I enjoy them at home every year during the season. Being able to enjoy fresh fruits that are hard to find in Japan, and at affordable prices, is one of the pleasures of living in Vietnam.