Champion squash weighs 331.6 kg

Champion squash weighs 331.6 kg

TAKAMATSU, Japan - People admire the winner of an annual national squash contest held on Shodoshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture on Sept. 28. The squash, grown by Takao Hoshijima, 67, of Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, weighs 331.6 kilograms. Hoshijima plans to take his product to the world squash contest on Oct. 26 in San Francisco.

Giant 370-kg pumpkin judged heaviest in Japan

Giant 370-kg pumpkin judged heaviest in Japan

TAKAMATSU, Japan - Takao Hoshijima shows off the 369.5-kilogram pumpkin, grown by him, which was judged Japan's heaviest in a 15th national weight competition in Shodoshima Island, Kagawa Prefecture, on Sept. 30. The pumpkin, which is about 398 centimeters around and 81 cm high, will be entered in an international weight competition to be held in San Francisco on Oct. 20.

Okayama farmer wins giant pumpkin contest

Okayama farmer wins giant pumpkin contest

IKEDA, Japan - Takao Hoshijima, a farmer from Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture (R) shows off a mammoth pumpkin he grew that won the all-Japan pumpkin contest on Sept. 26. The pumpkin, the biggest among 62 giant pumpkins entered in the Japan No. 1 Giant Pumpkin Contest held in Shodoshima, Kagawa Prefecture, weighs 390.6 kilograms.

Champion squash weighs 331.6 kg

Champion squash weighs 331.6 kg

TAKAMATSU, Japan - People admire the winner of an annual national squash contest held on Shodoshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture on Sept. 28. The squash, grown by Takao Hoshijima, 67, of Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, weighs 331.6 kilograms. Hoshijima plans to take his product to the world squash contest on Oct. 26 in San Francisco. (Kyodo)

Giant 370-kg pumpkin judged heaviest in Japan

Giant 370-kg pumpkin judged heaviest in Japan

TAKAMATSU, Japan - Takao Hoshijima shows off the 369.5-kilogram pumpkin, grown by him, which was judged Japan's heaviest in a 15th national weight competition in Shodoshima Island, Kagawa Prefecture, on Sept. 30. The pumpkin, which is about 398 centimeters around and 81 cm high, will be entered in an international weight competition to be held in San Francisco on Oct. 20.

Okayama farmer wins giant pumpkin contest.

Okayama farmer wins giant pumpkin contest.

IKEDA, Japan - Takao Hoshijima, a farmer from Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture (R) shows off a mammoth pumpkin he grew that won the all-Japan pumpkin contest on Sept. 26. The pumpkin, the biggest among 62 giant pumpkins entered in the Japan No. 1 Giant Pumpkin Contest held in Shodoshima, Kagawa Prefecture, weighs 390.6 kilograms.