Two types of persimmons, bitter and sweet.

In the case of Japan, we have two types of persimmons. One is sweet persimmons and another one is bitter persimmons.

You would say that nobody likes bitter persimmons. However, many Japanese like this bitter type. We have the reason why.

Bitter ones have the shape like a tip of a Japanese brush for writing Japanese calligraphy. We cannot eat this, if it is still raw. Of course we don’t eat bitter persimmons. We have a way to be able to eat it. That is a way of making dried persimmons.

In this season, within the countryside, you can see the scenery where so many persimmons are hung in front of houses. They are the scenery where people are making dried persimmons.

Dried persimmons are very sweet. But it’s not sweet like chocolate. It’s unique sweet which fruits have in many cases. I didn’t like persimmons very much in my childhood, but I like them now. The reason why may be because I aged.

Last week, my wife hung the peeled persimmons on the balcony of our house. When one week passes, those persimmons are able to be eaten step by step. I like it.

Picked up tea fruits around tea trees

In this season, you can find fruits of tea on the ground around tea trees. Of course, it’s a story within Japan. Also today, I picked up such fruits while taking a walk.

In Bairin park, it’s a name of a park near my house, many tea trees are planted. This park has a long history. One famous tycoon made this around in the 20th century, with spending his private assets. Now anybody can play in this park. When spring comes, many plum trees will bloom.

Next week, I’m going to plant a tea tree in my small garden. And I heard that it’s difficult to grow such tea trees. In the case of Japan, speaking of tea, it means green tea. And Japanese green tea has many kinds of tea.

In those teas, “Macha（抹茶）” is most famous, as a Japanese food. Macha has a strict way of drinking in “Sadou（茶道）”, which is code of tea culture. If you drink it too easily, you will definitely be scolded by the master. “That’s not correct!”

Therefore, of course, I’m not going to make Macha. I’m an easy and simple person. It’s okay and enough for me to only see tea trees growing starting next year.

Hina-dolls are decorated for little girl's celebration day

The day of 3rd March is the celebration day for little girls. That is called 桃の節句/Momo-no-sekku and 雛祭り/Hina-matsuri.

雛人形（Hina-dolls）is the dolls for celebrating that day. In the houses of traditional lifestyle, Hina-dolls have been decorated in many cases. Here, the traditional lifestyle of old aristocrats in Kyoto is expressed.

During this time, Hina-dolls are decorated in various public spaces. You will be able to see it when you visit Japan in February. These pictures were shot by me, in a hotel where I stayed at night.