https://www.naro.go.jp/publicity_report/press/laboratory/nifts/163351.html

Japan’s National Agricultural Research Organization NARO has developed a new apple variety that has compact fruit tree branches that do not spread out horizontally. It has been named “Benitsurugi.” The apple trees can be planted close together and the movement during harvesting can be simplified, making it suitable for automatic harvesting. Although the coloring is inferior to existing varieties, the taste is said to be high in sugar content and has an excellent balance of sugar and acid.

“Benitsurugi” was created by crossbreeding a variety that inherits the compact tree shape of the overseas apple variety “Wijcik” with the domestic varieties “Fuji” and “Sansa”. NARO is currently in the process of registering the variety “Benitsurugi”, and will begin providing seedlings after the procedure is completed, which usually takes about one to two years.