The Unmistakable Sound of Yaki-Imo Whistles

It’s definitely winter weather in Sendai by now. Yes, the official start of winter is still a few days away. But the sun is out, the air is crisp, and temperatures are getting colder. And that means that one of our seasonal favorites is back. Yaki-Imo, or roasted sweet potatoes, are showing up in stores everywhere. You can’t miss the smell, slightly reminiscent of roasting coffee.

But Yaki-Imo is not only available in stores. Many street vendors sell them from carts or the back of little trucks, as well. And you can’t miss the unmistakable sound of Yaki-Imo whistles! Traditionally sweet potatoes were roasted on hot stones. But that is not always practical. Today they are cooked on gas flames. The escaping moisture turns into steam and is vented through a tall pipe. This creates the traditional whistling sound.

Our First Yaki-Imo of the Season

The other day Coco and I were out for a walk when we heard the unmistakable sound of Yaki-Imo whistles. Of course, we had to go and investigate. And just around the corne