noun
shirasu; white pumiceous soil of southern Kyushu
A geological term for a specific type of volcanic deposit found in southern Kyushu, often used in local contexts.
鹿児島のシラス台地は、農業に利用されています。
The shirasu plateau in Kagoshima is used for agriculture.
シラスは水はけが良いので、サツマイモ栽
Shirasu drains well, so it is suitable for growing sweet potatoes.
The term シラス (shirasu) is a local name for the white pumiceous soil found in southern Kyushu. The kanji 白砂 literally means 'white sand', but the word is usually written in kana.