Daigaku-imo is Japanese sweet potatoes simmered in sweet sauce. It is prepared by cutting into suitable sizes and simmering in sweet syrup. This sort of preparation method has been used for a long time. However, recently trends in recipes not using sweet syrup with lower calories have emerged.

Daigakuimo is often preserved by freezing. Precooked daigaku-imo can be quickly prepared for eating by just thawing and heating up.

In Japanese, Daigaku-imo can be translated into English as "university potato." Although there are many different opinions on why it is called this; however one is rumored to be deeply connected to Tokyo University. It is said that Daigakuimo came be when a group of students at the university started selling these delicious treats, thus giving them the name university-potato. The daigaku-imo is one example how foods are meshed deeply into Japanese culture.