Product Name: Kitaro Sweet Persimmon
Description:
Kitaro is a premium, non-astringent sweet persimmon variety developed in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, and officially registered in 2009. Bred from a cross of "Soda Hayao" and "Kanshu", this variety belongs to the PCNA (Pollination Constant Non-Astringent) type, ensuring reliable sweetness without astringency. Its name is inspired by the famous Japanese manga series GeGeGe No Kitaro, created by Tottori-native artist Shigeru Mizuki.
Eat It Like an Apple:
As a fully non-astringent variety, Kitaro contains minimal tannins when ripe. Unlike traditional persimmons, there is no need to wait for it to soften or undergo any treatment. It can be enjoyed crisp, sweet, and refreshing, straight from the tree – described as having a clean flavor “like a pear”.
Appearance:
The fruit is round to oval with a vibrant vermillion to bright orange skin that is thin and glossy. The flesh is light golden-orange, firm, dense, smooth, and fiberless, with a moist texture. Most fruits are seedless, making them convenient for fresh eating.
Flavor:
Kitaro delivers an outstanding eating experience with a soluble solids content of 16–17% Brix – significantly higher than the early-season variety 'Soshu' (14.2%). The flavor is described as mild, sweet, and sugary, with a distinct hint of banana that sets it apart from other persimmon varieties.
Key Commercial Advantages:
Early-Season Market Window – Ripens in late September to early October, approximately 20 days to 1 month earlier than the famous ‘Taiqiu’ variety, capturing premium early-season demand when supply is limited.
Large Fruit Size – Average weight 300 grams or more, with large fruits reaching up to 500 grams – significantly larger than the common ‘Fuyu’ persimmon.
High-End Positioning – A rare and luxury variety in Japan, with individual fruits retailing for over 500 yen in select markets. In China, a single mother tree was valued at over 2,000 yuan during early introduction, highlighting its prestige.
Important Considerations (for Growers):
Core Defect – Core Blackening: Seedless fruits frequently develop hollow core cavities with black discoloration – a well-documented characteristic of this variety that growers should be aware of.
Needs Pollinizer: The tree produces no male flowers; pollinizer trees are required to reduce blackening and improve fruit quality.
Physiological Drop: Young and overly vigorous trees may experience summer drop in August.
Cracking Risk: Heavy rainfall during the coloring stage may cause skin cracking and staining.
Disease Susceptibility: Shows weak resistance to powdery mildew; susceptible to trunk borers.
- Harvest Season:
Late September to early October – a premium early-season variety that captures strong autumn market demand and commands premium pricing.