How to Read “Bitter persimmons last long”
Shibugaki no nagamochi
Meaning of “Bitter persimmons last long”
“Bitter persimmons last long” means that modest, unassuming people tend to endure longer. Just as bitter persimmons serve as preserved food for a long time despite being plain, people who work steadily without flashiness ultimately stay active longer.
This proverb is used when comparing flashy, attention-grabbing people with those who work steadily. It’s based on the observation that people who build achievements consistently, even without standing out, maintain success longer than those who temporarily bask in the spotlight.
This teaching still applies today. Many people gain instant attention on social media, but their popularity doesn’t always last. Meanwhile, people who work sincerely and build trust, even if they’re plain, continue to be needed by those around them for a long time.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written records explain the origin of this proverb. However, we can understand how it developed from the characteristics of persimmons and Japanese food culture.
Persimmons come in two types: sweet and astringent. Astringent persimmons are too bitter to eat when harvested, but they can be preserved for long periods when dried. Sweet persimmons taste delicious right after harvest but bruise easily and don’t keep well.
Astringent persimmons, though plain and unremarkable, become dried persimmons that serve as valuable preserved food in winter. They have helped people for a long time.
This contrast overlapped with observations of human society and became established as a proverb. Flashy, glamorous people attract attention, but their brilliance may not last long. In contrast, plain, unassuming people work steadily and often stay active for a long time.
In farming communities, much wisdom was born from overlapping natural principles with human nature. This proverb contains the keen observation of ancestors who saw the essence of how to live through the familiar example of bitter persimmons.
Usage Examples
- That senior isn’t flashy, but like bitter persimmons last long, they’ve been active on the front lines for 20 years
- They didn’t stand out when young, but bitter persimmons last long—now they’re a respected figure in the industry
Universal Wisdom
The proverb “Bitter persimmons last long” has been passed down because it contains deep insight into the value of sustainability in human society.
People are instinctively drawn to flashy, eye-catching things. However, looking back at history, our ancestors repeatedly witnessed that temporary brilliance fades easily, while steady accumulation endures the test of time.
Flashy success stays in people’s memories easily. But the countless people who quietly continued supporting society were actually the true force that sustained civilization.
This proverb contains wisdom that distinguishes between short-term evaluation and long-term value. Humans tend to be captivated by immediate glamour, but what truly matters is sustainability.
The attitude of walking steadily and sincerely, even if plainly, ultimately becomes the strongest force. This truth doesn’t change whether in farming society or modern society.
The keen observation of ancestors who overlapped the natural principle that bitter persimmons preserve longer than sweet ones with human life truly strikes at the essence of life. The values that emphasize substance over flashiness and continuity over moments are condensed here.
When AI Hears This
The secret to why bitter persimmons last long lies in the “reaction blocking function” of a substance called tannin. Tannin binds with microbial enzymes, so when microbes try to decompose the persimmon, chemical reactions don’t proceed.
In other words, the speed of the chemical reaction called decay becomes extremely slow. Sweet persimmons are high in sugar and provide a nutrient-rich environment for microbes, but bitter persimmons are protected by a chemical defensive wall.
What’s interesting here is the energy perspective. Sweet persimmons are in a high-energy, unstable state, while bitter persimmons are in a low-energy, stable state. In chemistry, things with higher energy react more easily and change more readily.
Sweet persimmons bruise in a few days while bitter persimmons last several weeks. This is precisely the difference in reaction speed created by this energy gap.
Even more remarkable is that when made into dried persimmons, tannin changes to an insoluble form and becomes even more stable. As moisture decreases, the “reaction field” where microbes can be active disappears entirely, and preservation period extends to several months.
This is a strategy of “raising the activation energy barrier to the extreme limit” in reaction kinetics terms.
In other words, bitter persimmons are beings that acquired chemical stability at the cost of unpleasant taste. The more perfect and attractive something is, the more fragile it is; the more imperfect, the longer it remains.
This chemical law might be a universal truth that also applies to systems in human society.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches you today is the value of cherishing your own pace. You don’t need to panic when you see someone’s glamorous success on social media.
Even if you don’t stand out, sincerely complete what you can do today. That accumulation becomes the solid foundation that supports your life.
Even if you feel plain compared to others, that doesn’t mean you’re inferior. Rather, it’s proof that you’re walking your own path steadily without being distracted by flashiness.
Small daily efforts may not produce visible results immediately. But those efforts are definitely accumulating inside you.
What matters is not a moment of brilliance, but what you can continue for a long time. Without forcing yourself to stand out, cherish being yourself and continue doing what you can.
If you do, when you notice, you’ll have become a trusted, indispensable presence to those around you. Like bitter persimmons, let’s walk a life where you can help people for a long time, even if plainly.
Comments