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Having the Seven Herbs of Spring 2025

In Japan, there is a custom of eating seven-herb rice porridge on January 7th to promote good health and ward off evil spirits in the coming year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanakusa-no-sekku; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinjitsu; https://www.foodinjapan.org/japan/nanakusa-gayu

A set of seven herbs, produce of Hakone Seiroku Mishima Yasai* in the city of Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/07/2025

(Bottom, left to right): Chickweed (Stellaria media) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellaria_media; Japanese radish (Raphanus sativus) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daikon; Water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oenanthe_javanica; Turnip (Brassica rapa) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnip; Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsella_bursa-pastoris

(Top, left to right): Shepherd’s purse; Cudweed (Pseudognaphalium affine) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudognaphalium_affine; Nipplewort (Lapsana communis) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapsana_communis

* Hakone Seiroku Mishima Yasai: https://hakoneseirokumishimayasai.jp/?lang=en

FYI: https://www-kodama–foods-co-jp.translate.goog/sihan/nanakusa?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja&_x_tr_pto=wapp

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Himuro Shrine in the Town of Fujikawa

Himuro Shrine is located in the middle of Mount Kushigata at an altitude of about 1,000 meters. The original buildings were built by Gitan Gyouen as Takao Temple belonging to Shingon Buddhism in 770. However, the temple buildings were destroyed at the time of the Meiji Restoration and replaced by Shinto Shrine ones. Ever since the incident, the place has been known as Himuro Shrine. There are 575 stone steps to reach the main house of the shrine. There are large cedar trees and they are estimated to be about 100 to 150 years old. Some sacred trees were thought to be a lot older than those years.

Mount Fuji view in front of the Torii of Himuro Shrine.

Himuro Shrine, Hirabayashi, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/22/2024

Torii(s), stone steps, cedar trees, shrine houses and stone lanterns, Himuro Shrine, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/22/2024

Japanese thuja (Thuja standishii), Himuro Shrine, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/22/2024

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuja_standishii

A stone structure with a family crest of two hawk feathers cross each other.

Himuro Shrine, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/22/2024

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%B7%B9%E3%81%AE%E7%BE%BD; https://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/202212/202212_03_en.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon_(emblem)

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The Cutest Post Office

The cutest and smallest post office I have ever seen in Japan is located in the town of Fujikawa in Yamanashi Prefecture. The name of the post office is Ohkubo Simplified Post Office: https://map.japanpost.jp/p/search/dtl/300108865000/.

Ohkubo Simplified Post Office, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/22/2024

There is a smaller post office than this one in the United States of America. Ochopee Post Office is considered to be the smallest post office in the USA, located in Ochopee, Florida. How small is it? You will find it: https://facts.usps.com/smallest-post-office/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochopee_Post_Office#:~:text=Measuring%20a%20mere%2061%20square,41%20and%20State%20Road%2029.

The Smallest Post Office in Japan is Hikutani Simplified Post Office in the city of Yamaguchi in Yamaguchi Prefecture; however, the service of this post office has been suspended since October, 2015 until someone raises a hand to help. Currently, there is only a post box at the site of the Post Office.

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Morning Sunshine in the town of Fujikawa

Sunrise sky images, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/19/2024

Yuzu (Citrus × junos), Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/19/2024

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuzu

Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/19/2024

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllostachys_edulis

Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/19/2024

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptomeria

Literature monument of a Japanese poet and sculptor Takamura Kotaro, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/19/2024

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dtar%C5%8D_Takamura

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Koshu-Hyakume Dried Persimmons

Koshu-Hyakume (Diospyros kaki ) is an astringent persimmon variety which has been commonly used for Hoshigaki (Dried persimmons) and Anpogaki (Semi-dried persimmons) in Yamanashi Prefecture for a long time. The name of the variety derives from Hyakumomme. Hyaku is the Japanese word for 100 and the monme is the old Japanese unit of weight equivalent to 3.75 grams. A common persimmon fruit weighs about 200g; however, a Koshu-Hyakume fruit weighs about 375g. The sugar content of fresh persimmons is usually around 20%. To make Hoshigaki, first the pericarp (skin) of fresh persimmons is peeled and skinless persimmons are strung to hung from the eaves of a house to dry. After drying and removing the astringency of persimmons, the sugar content of the dried persimmons becomes about 70%.

Korogaki are hoshigski of Koshu-Hyakume persimmons. It takes about 45 days from harvesting to completing the drying process. The duration is about two times of those of other common persimmons. Peeled persimmons are hung from the eaves of a house for about three weeks. One week after drying, the water content of persimmons becomes about 50% and these are named Anpogaki which have jelly-like texture and are juicy. In order to make Korogaki, the drying process is continued further more than one month. When the water content of persimmons becomes about 20% and the sweetness is strengthened, these are named Korogaki. The cold and dry wind from the Minami-Alps mountains helps the drying process of persimmons. When the drying process is complete, the size of persimmons becomes about one third of the original one. By gentle-hand kneading (Temomi in Japanese), separating the seed from the pulp, the remaining water inside the fruit is dispersed entirely and the fruit is dried evenly. The next process is the rack-drying. Half-dried persimmons are put on racks with rice straw to dry them flat-shaped. The persimmons over the racks are turned over every three days. There is a hollow inside the straw which helps absorb the moisture. Once a dimple is formed in the fruit, the rack-drying process is complete. The dried persimmons are left inside the house for about two days. The pulp of the persimmons is shriveled and a frosty layer is formed on the surface. Hoshigai of these persimmons are called Korogaki.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diospyros_kaki; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persimmon

Koshu-Hyakume persimmons, Iwanami Farm, Enzan, Koshu, Yamanashi, 12/07/2024

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%94%B2%E5%B7%9E%E7%99%BE%E7%9B%AE

Korogaki (Koshu-Hyakume hoshigaki), Iwanami Farm, Enzan, Koshu, Yamanashi, 12/07/2024

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dried_persimmon; https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Hyakume_Persimmons_6662.php

The pericarp (skin) of persimmons is peeled and skinless persimmons are strung to hung from the eaves of a house to dry.

Iwanami Farm, Enzan, Koshu, Yamanashi, 12/07/2024

Drying Koshu-Hyakume persimmons, Iwanami Farm, Enzan, Koshu, Yamanashi, 12/07/2024

Apples (Malus domestica), Iwanami Farm, Enzan, Koshu, Yamanashi, 12/07/2024

Smartweed (Persicaria capitata) and purple heart (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’), Iwanami Farm, Enzan, Koshu, Yamanashi, 12/07/2024