also: じねんじょう
noun
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.
自然薯は山で採れる野生のヤマイモです。
The Japanese yam is a wild yam that can be harvested in the mountains.
とろろ汁には自然薯がよく使われる。
Japanese yam is often used in grated yam soup.
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').