I take no credit for this pun, allow me to just point out that Tottori 20th Century Pears are indeed delicious, and around September or so they sort of take over the entire prefecture.
So what else is there to say about these pears, besides that they’re delicious?
These pears, first cultivated in 1898 right before the turn of the century, are also known as “Nijisseiki” or “Nijusseiki” among both Japanese and Western horticulturists, as one of the only green varieties of Asian pears among an array of russet varieties. Like other Asian pears, it is crisp and sweet, fragrant, and with a grainy texture. They’re large and often shared as gifts, decoratively cut to be shared and enjoyed raw.
But no famous local product in Japan would ever thrive on its own fame simple by being served raw. First, you need to make an ice cream flavor out of it, no matter what it is.

From Tottori Hana Kairo, a very big and lovely flower park.
Next, you need to make a curry out of it.

More appetizing than it looks, especially right after visiting the Tottori Sand Dunes.
It needs to be available for sale all over your respective region.
In the surrounding regions (like my local grocery stores) people need to go on a frenzy ordering them in advance, fully expecting to pay top dollar (er, uh, yen) for the shiniest of fruits. Having people pay to pick their own fruits in season is a given, and at this time of year, anyone should be able to drive through the area and see trees heavy with plastic-bag-covered fruit. Tottori has this all covered with their 20th Century Pears.
But they take it even further–yes, the Tottori Nijisseki Pear Museum is a real thing. I have not had the pleasure of going myself, but the more I think about it, the more interesting it looks. Having taught a very detailed class about American culture by way of peanut butter, I can tell you that a close look into a single plant-based food has can be extremely enlightening.
Although pears (梨) make a good pun for nothingness (無), don’t underestimate them. The ones I have received as gifts were indeed some of the tastiest pears I’ve ever had.
September 19, 2015 at 8:32 am
We just starting seeing these at the Farmers’ Market in Seattle! I need to buy some next time I’m there.
September 28, 2015 at 9:06 am
Hopefully they taste just as good in the US!
September 19, 2015 at 11:10 pm
I love puns too! In Korean, 梨 and 無 sound nothing like each other. I also often find it interesting how in Japanese how single Chinese characters are pronounced in multiple syllables.
September 28, 2015 at 9:07 am
Yeah, Japanese can be a little crazy that way. Neither Korean nor Japanese grammar fit Chinese characters as well as Chinese does, but I have to wonder if Korea used those characters in ways that made more sense before switching to Hangul!
September 20, 2015 at 12:19 pm
I would sooooo love to try the pear-flavored soft serve!!
September 28, 2015 at 9:08 am
It was one of my favorites I’ve had in Japan!
September 21, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Oh, wow a pear museum!! How I would love to visit. :)
September 28, 2015 at 9:08 am
I haven’t been to it, but I’m very curious about it too!
October 30, 2015 at 6:47 pm
i had no idea there is a museum dedicated to tottori pear. the first and only pear ice cream i had was in tottori. not too far from the sand museum. how i would love to visit the pear museum now.
November 4, 2015 at 9:17 am
Me too! I wish I would have none more about it before I went to the sand dunes.
November 19, 2015 at 1:18 pm
Oishi so!
November 19, 2015 at 1:28 pm
They are indeed quite tasty! ^_^