The Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station cross-fertilized general-purpose rice (which was used as a material for sake) with Omachi; the variety was fixed in 1931 and was given the line name 'Yamato 50-7' and named 'Yamada nishiki' in 1936, after which it was adopted as a recommended variety of Hyogo Prefecture.
同県立農事試験場にて酒の原料に使われる一般米/雄町を交配、1931（昭和6）年に品種確定し「山渡50-7」との系統名がつけられ、1936（昭和11）年に「山田錦」と命名され兵庫県奨励品種に採用された。