1.
persimmon
An orange fruit native to East Asia, eaten fresh when ripe or dried. Persimmons are a symbol of autumn in Japan.
柿 refers to persimmons.
Types:
- 甘柿 (sweet persimmon - can be eaten fresh)
- 渋柿 (astringent persimmon - must be dried or processed)
- 干し柿 (dried persimmon)
Common expressions:
- 柿の種 (persimmon seed; also a type of rice cracker)
- 柿が赤くなると医者が青くなる (when persimmons turn red, doctors turn pale - persimmons are healthy)
Counter: 個
Cultural note:
Persimmon trees are common in Japanese gardens and countryside. The orange persimmons hanging from bare branches are an iconic autumn scene. 干し柿 (dried persimmons) are made by peeling and hanging persimmons to dry, transforming astringent persimmons into a sweet treat. The famous haiku by Masaoka Shiki mentions persimmons: 「柿食えば鐘が鳴るなり法隆寺」