As autumn nears its end, "hoshigaki" (or "tsurushigaki") dried persimmons, which are peeled and hung under eaves, can be seen in the Suwa region of Nagano Prefecture. They are carefully dried for about three weeks to avoid getting wet in the rain. Taking advantage of sunny weather, cold temperatures and a dry climate, locals have traditionally made hoshigaki at home. The bright orange, bamboo-blind-like scenery is unique to this season.

Japanese original

Easy Japanese news is taken from the Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun, a newspaper for children. This is perfect material for anyone studying Japanese who has learned hiragana and katakana. We encourage beginners to read the article in English followed by Japanese, or vice versa, to test their comprehension.

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