Persimmons!

I believe I've already blogged about the trip to Niigata and the eating of crabs. The person that took Nick and I is Watari-san (female). The reason that she took us free of charge is mostly because we'd agreed to help her this year with the picking of her persimmons. She and her husband (also called Watari-san, because of Japanese naming) own some persimmon trees, and being quite advanced in age, can't easily keep up with the harvesting once they become ripe. Before this I don't think I have ever touched a persimmon or known what it was, let alone eaten one or know how to pick them. By the way, the Japanese word for persimmon is kaki (pronounced kah-kee).

Nick and I showed up at the house in some clothes that were okay to get dirty. We slung some baskets around our necks, climbed some ladders, and started picking! The first day this only lasted a few hours. Afterwords, Watari-san prepared a nice dinner for us and some treats her neighbor brought home from Vietnam for us to take with us. I agreed to help again the next morning at 7:30 after I drop Nick off at the bus station in Iida, en route to America. The reason I will talk about later.

That Sunday I helped peel the persimmons (there were 2 ifferent machines that had to be used) and hang them to be smoked lightly and dried. Watari-san's sister was there to help as well, and it was quite enjoyable.

That Tuesday was a national holiday and everyone had off of school. I went to Iida again, but this time we went to their plot of farmland, about 3/4 of an acre about 20 minutes away. We climbed the ladders and picked many bushels full. After this, I helped Watari-san prepare dinner and the couple and I sat underneath the kotatsu (heated Japanese table) and enjoyed a nice filling dinner. Kind of fitting that the holiday is "Bunka no hi" or "Culture day," and there I was learning about Japanese farming.

That's the last I've heard of them to date, and I think the season is about over. Now I know more than what's probably needed about persimmons.