Kikue Nagae
（Farmer in Mima city）

Mrs. Nagae cultivates persimmons on the slopes of the Asan Mountains, situated on the northern bank of the Yoshino River.

Previously, she cultivated Hassaku oranges. However, after the trees perished during a particularly severe winter, she transitioned to persimmon cultivation in 1988.

She cultivates seven varieties of persimmons, including Tonegaki, Hiratanegaki, and Yamatogaki.

The harvest season is from mid-September to late November. The harvested persimmons are sold at local roadside stations or sent to suppliers outside the prefecture for processing into Japanese sweets and other products.

Additionally, she sells seasonal vegetables at roadside stations.

“Cultivation, pruning, and harvesting of persimmons is labor-intensive,” she said, “but we have customers who look forward to them, so we want to do our best.”