‘Apple tattoo’: a unique technique that turns apples into edible works of art

For centuries, apple growers in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture have been creating beautiful heirloom apples using the mojie ringo technique.
‘Mojie Ringo’ is a unique technique in Japan that harnesses the power of the sun to create beautifully decorated apples without the use of any chemicals.

For centuries, apple growers in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture have been creating beautiful heirloom apples using the mojie ringo technique. The process is pretty simple, which basically means exposing the apple to sunlight for a period of time and then applying stencils to ensure that certain parts of the apple peel are discolored. Usually, mojie ringo apples are decorated with messages and symbols of good luck and prosperity, and given as gifts. Large apple varieties like Mutsu or Stark Jumbo are best suited for the mojie ringo technique, as they provide more surface area for intricate designs. The apples using the mojie ringo technique are extremely beautiful. Preparations begin in January, with a pruning operation, to ensure that the remaining flowers receive plenty of sunlight. Growers then use soft wands to hand-pollinate each apple tree flower, and then when the fruit begins to form, they are covered with a laminated plastic bag to both protect the berries from Pests just block sunlight. Keeping apples in the dark for long periods of time increases their sensitivity to light, so when they remove the plastic bags, they begin to produce anthocyanins, a component that gives the skin its red color. In the final stage of the mojie ringo process, stencils are applied over the surface of the apple to ensure that only the skin around the stencils turns red. The stencils are removed during harvesting, revealing the almost white skin underneath. Stencils need to be flexible, as the fruit continues to grow, and otherwise, the style may suffer. According to Culture Trip, the Mojie Ringo technique was perfected by Aomori farmer Haruo Iwasaki, father of Chisato Iwasaki, one of today’s most talented apple artisans. Although the mojie ringo technique may seem quite simple, it requires a lot of work and patience over the long term, and for many growers the effort and attention are insignificant economically. That’s why the old tradition is slowly fading away, only a few Aomori gardens still keep this technique. The mojie ringo technique is also very popular in China and other Asian countries under the name of “tattooing apples”.