Yesterday Rick and I took the fast train (90 minutes) back to Isawaonsen to visit his former missionary companion at the rehabilitation hospital.  As we got close to Isawaonsen I noticed persimmon trees loaded with yellow-orange fruit. I ate my first persimmon in January of this year and they are delicious. It is my new favorite fruit. I expected to see orchards, there were a few trees together in some places, but mostly there many places where each house just had one tree in the yard. We did see peach orchards and vineyards.

Persimmons

Ashikaga-san was looking good. We had a wonderful hour with him and as we were leaving he followed us out and showed us how he can jump rope. We were impressed.

Rick and Ashikaga