Seiji Miyoshi
（Tsurugi town, Sansei, LLC）

The Hiraraishi district in Tsurugi overlooks the Handa Basin and is known for its persimmon cultivation, which takes advantage of well-drained mountain slopes. In autumn, the mountains turn bright orange with Atago persimmons.

Seiji Miyoshi grows Atago persimmons that have been passed down from his mother. During the harvest season in early November, people from outside the town come to help, drawn by his warm and welcoming personality.

The harvested persimmons are packed the following day and shipped to the markets in Osaka and Tokyo.

Miyoshi also ages Atago persimmons using his own method and sells them as persimmon vinegar and juice.

Persimmons are rich in potassium, polyphenols, and vitamin C and are known for their health and beauty benefits, making persimmon vinegar particularly popular.

Additionally, he produces dried persimmons. His products are available through the Sansei Online Shop on the company’s website.

He notes that, in recent years, climate change has sometimes caused anthracnose disease, which creates black spots on the fruit, and says he hopes to diversify into growing other fruits, such as grapes.