The Perfect Balance of a Persimmon
The Perfect Balance of a Persimmon
When I first moved to Japan, one of the first things I noticed in autumn were these bright orange fruits glowing on the trees: persimmons.
Before living here, I had only seen them occasionally in fancy grocery stores, maybe dried or a small amount among other common fruits. But in Japan, persimmons are everywhere and abundant during fall. I love how seasonal fruits are so special. You can see the rows, and rows of them front in center at the supermarkets.
And I’ve become completely enchanted. 🍊
So much so that I even carved my own linoleum stamps to create a shirt patterned with persimmons running down the sides. Every time I wear it, people smile. There’s something about those cheerful orange circles that just brings joy, and when people recognize they’re persimmons, the connection deepens. Everyone here seems to love them and not just for their taste, but because they represent warmth, seasonality, and simple beauty.
Seeing the Details
The more I’ve studied persimmons, the more I’ve fallen in love with their form. The color alone feels like a million shades of orange in one: red-orange, soft golden yellow, turmeric, pumpkin orange...I could go on.
If you look at one from above, you’ll notice a cool square-like symmetry: four leafy petals arranged almost perfectly across its crown. It’s not quite round like an apple but more like a circle that holds a gentle square inside. Sometimes on the bottom, you can even see a faint X-shaped pattern, a mark from how it grew.
There’s this built-in harmony, a subtle understated geometry that feels both designed and natural. It reminds me that nature has its own order, its own rhythms and systems that we can rely on.
——> One of my illustrations with a message I wrote on top. I have no idea if anyone has said this but this came to me.
What Nature Teaches
When I think about that, I realize how beautifully consistent nature is. It’s always there for us. It shows up again and again, season after season.
And then I think about how we as humans can be the opposite. We’re unpredictable, emotional, full of change. Yet here’s this fruit that’s quietly perfect, balanced, dependable. The persimmon tells us that steadiness can also be beautiful.
The persimmon has become, for me, a symbol of gratitude for nature’s cycles, of nourishment, for the small things that sustain us.
Because really, if we have food to eat, a safe place to rest, and people we love to share those things with, that’s true abundance.
A Simple Reminder
Every time I see persimmons glowing on the trees, I try to slow down and let myself appreciate it’s beauty. Except for taking pictures, it’s a way to stop getting distracted by my phone (yes, I know you know!).
Nature is always showing up and we are so lucky. Perfectly on time, perfectly itself. And maybe the most beautiful thing we can do is notice that, and let it remind us how to come back into the moment…and then make some art!