Yuki Usagi Strawberry (雪うさぎ)

Imagine opening a Japanese fruit gift box and finding strawberries that look almost white instead of red, each one large and dotted with little red seeds. In Japan, people say those dots look like the red eyes of a white rabbit in the snow. That is the Yuki Usagi strawberry (雪うさぎ), a Japanese white strawberry from Karatsu in Saga Prefecture. Despite the name, ripe fruit is usually pinkish white rather than pure white. It stands out for its size, its gentle sweetness, and a fruity aroma that sellers often compare to peach. Below, we combine Japan’s official plant variety record with local Saga reports, growers’ listings, and fruit guides, and we say which is which. This guide covers where it comes from, why it stays pale, how it tastes, when to find it, and how it compares with other white strawberries. TOCWhat Is Yuki Usagi Strawberry? Yuki Usagi is a registered Japanese strawberry cultivar with pale, pinkish-white skin and white flesh. Japan registered it in 2014, and a small group of farmers grows it in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture. Its name means “snow rabbit.” Quick Facts: Yuki Usagi Strawberry Japanese name雪うさぎ (Yuki Usagi, “snow rabbit”) StatusRegistered cultivar; Yuki Usagi is i...