Beni Madonna, Iyokan, Kawachibankan. These are just some of the more than 40 citrus varieties produced in Ehime Prefecture, in western Japan, which proudly calls itself the Citrus Kingdom.
Three businesswomen who sell award-winning marmalades made using Ehime's citrus fruits are determined to further raise the fruits' profile overseas while also helping revitalize their hometowns.
Yoriko and Seiko Ninomiya, founders of Nino's Confiture, hail from Ikata, while Miyuki Kokubu, the founder of Atrium, comes from the next town of Yawatahama — both small coastal communities surrounded by citrus farms.