Japanese yam (Dioscorea japonica)
A type of yam native to Japan. Often used in cooking; the tuber is edible.
See also: 山の芋 (やまのいも)
Japanese yam is used in tororo gohan (grated yam over rice).
This Japanese yam is very sticky.
Standard mixed kanji-katakana spelling.
All-katakana spelling, also common.
From English 'yam' + 芋 (いも, 'potato, tuber'). The exact derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning.