Grilled sweet potatoes (yaki-imo - 石焼き芋)

Since the Edo period, sweet potatoes are an autumn and winter delicacy in Japan. Sweet potatoes vendors are one of the few remaining street jobs that can still be found in Japanese cities. Vendors carry their roasting grill on a cart or more commonly nowadays on a pick-up. To attract customers they shout or sing with a distinctive melody “yaki-imo! - yaki-imo” (grilled sweet potatoes). Grilled sweet potatoes are sold wrapped in newspaper and are very nice to warm you up in winter.

Today yaki-imo are found in convenience stores all over Japan. It's certainly convenient, but it lacks the charm than the traditional street carts.

 

explain_photo1
Grilled sweet potatoes [source]
explain_photo2
Sweet potatoes street shop [source]

 

 

 

Hashiokis linked to this subject :
hashioki