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We don't hear much from Japan. This in today:

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20031006wo33.htm


Pumpkin champion squashes foes



Yomiuri Shimbun

For the third year running--and for the fifth time in his career--a farmer from Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, recently was declared champion pumpkin grower of Japan.

The pumpkin grown by Takao Hoshijima, 68, which weighed 406.8 kilograms and measured about four meters in circumference, beat those submitted by about 100 entrants from 11 prefectures to win the 17th All-Japan Giant Pumpkin Championships, held in Ikedacho, Kagawa Prefecture.

With higher than average rainfall, pumpkins and squashes across Japan have grown unusually large this year.

A crowd of about 1,000 people attendend the competition, with many people trying to put their arms round the huge vegetables to get a feel for how large this year's giant pumpkins were.

National champion Hoshijima is planning to compete in the world championship that will be held in the United States this month.

"This is the first time I've broken the 400 kilograms barrier, and I'm thrilled," he said. "Next, I'm aiming to pass the 500 kilograms mark at the world championship."

___Clip by Steve______________

10/5/2003 6:16:12 PM