The technique of using sunlight to turn apples into works of art by the Japanese

Mojie Ringo is a special Japanese technique of creating tattoos on apple peels, enhancing the value of this fruit.
For centuries, apple growers in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture have been creating beautiful heirloom apples using the Mojie Ringo technique. Aomori Prefecture is a prefecture located in the north of Japan that has long been famous for its brand of Aomori apples.

With the Mojie Ringo technique, Japanese farmers harness the power of the sun to create beautiful apples without the use of any chemicals. This process is called apple tattooing. Basically, apple growers expose the fruit to sunlight for a period of time and then use stencil molds to shape as desired, keeping the rest of the color unchanged. Usually, the looker will decorate the Mojie Ringo apple with writings that carry messages and symbols of luck and prosperity. Large apple varieties such as Mutsu or Stark Jumbo are best suited to apply the Mojie Ringo technique. With a lot of surface area, one can create complex designs. To apply this perennial technique, apple growers start preparing in January. They prune the branches to make sure the flowers get the most sunlight Growers then use soft-bristled wands to hand-pollinate each flower. When the fruit begins to form, people cover the apple with a multi-layer plastic bag to both protect the fruit from pests and block sunlight. Keeping apples in the dark for a long time increases their sensitivity to light, so when you remove the plastic bags, apples begin to produce anthocyanins, a component that gives the skin its red color. In the final stage of the Mojie Ringo process, a printed stencil mold is placed on the surface of the apple to ensure that only the skin around the stencil turns red. Placing the stencils needs to be flexible, as the fruit continues to grow, otherwise the style may suffer. 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 seems quite simple, it requires a lot of work and patience in the long run. It is also one of the reasons many growers no longer pursue this traditional look. There are only a few Aomori orchards that produce eye-catching apples.