also: じねんじょう
Japanese yam (Dioscorea japonica)
A wild yam native to Japan, often used in traditional cuisine. The reading じねんじょ is standard; じねんじょう is a variant associated with the 自然生 spelling.
The Japanese yam is a wild yam that can be harvested in the mountains.
Japanese yam is often used in grated yam soup.
山芋 is a broader term for wild yams, while 自然薯 specifically refers to Dioscorea japonica.
長芋 is a cultivated yam with a milder flavor and higher water content, commonly eaten raw.
Standard kanji spelling for this plant.
Alternate spelling with a different reading; less common.
The name 自然薯 literally means 'natural potato', referring to its wild growth. The reading じねんじょ is a combination of 自然 (じねん, 'natural') and 薯 (じょ, 'yam').