How to Read “A bitter persimmon rises to become a ripe persimmon”
Shibugaki ga jukushi ni nariagaru
Meaning of “A bitter persimmon rises to become a ripe persimmon”
This proverb means that just as a bitter persimmon becomes sweet over time, people also mature through experience.
When someone is young, they may be immature. Their words and actions might be sharp, or their thinking might be rigid.
But as they gain various experiences and grow over time, they become calm and develop depth of character.
You use this saying when watching over young or immature people. You also use it when seeing someone who was once difficult has grown into a fine person.
For example: “He used to be so sharp-edged, but like a bitter persimmon rises to become a ripe persimmon, he’s completely mellowed out now.”
People use this expression to convey that growth takes time. It reminds us of the importance of being patient and watching over others without rushing them.
Even today, this wisdom applies to many situations. A boss waiting for young employees to develop, or parents with rebellious teenagers—whenever you need to take a long-term view of someone’s growth.
Origin and Etymology
The exact source of this proverb is unclear. However, it likely emerged from persimmon culture deeply rooted in Japanese daily life.
Persimmons have been cultivated in Japan since ancient times. There are two types: astringent persimmons and sweet persimmons.
Astringent persimmons taste extremely bitter when freshly harvested. They’re completely inedible in that state.
But you can remove the bitterness by drying them, treating them with alcohol or carbon dioxide. Sometimes frost naturally removes the bitterness while the fruit hangs on the tree.
“Ripe persimmon” refers to persimmons that have lost their bitterness and ripened. “Rises to become” means changing from a low state to a high state.
People likely compared this transformation—from inedible bitter fruit to sweet delicious fruit—to human growth and maturation.
In agricultural villages, persimmons were a familiar fruit. People witnessed this change every year.
They observed how someone sharp and difficult in youth becomes gentle and profound with age and experience. This human observation connected with the persimmon’s transformation, creating this proverb.
Interesting Facts
The bitter taste in persimmons comes from a substance called tannin. Astringent and sweet persimmons actually contain the same amount of tannin.
But in sweet persimmons, the tannin changes into a water-insoluble form as they grow. This means your tongue can’t detect the bitterness.
Drying persimmons or treating them with alcohol also converts the tannin to an insoluble form. So persimmons don’t lose their bitterness—you just stop tasting it.
Japan has another proverb: “When persimmons turn red, doctors turn pale.” Persimmons are rich in vitamin C and carotene.
Eating persimmons in autumn helps prevent colds, reducing the need for doctors. This nutritious fruit has supported Japanese health for centuries.
Usage Examples
- He was cocky as a new employee, but now he takes good care of his juniors—truly a bitter persimmon rises to become a ripe persimmon
- Even if you’re sharp when young, like a bitter persimmon rises to become a ripe persimmon, you’ll eventually mellow out
Universal Wisdom
The universal truth in this proverb is that human growth requires time. We often want immediate results.
When we see immature people, we want them to change quickly. But just as persimmons don’t sweeten overnight, inner growth doesn’t happen suddenly.
What’s interesting is the phrase “rises to become a ripe persimmon” rather than “changes into a sweet persimmon.” This suggests qualitative improvement from within, not just simple change.
It respects the natural process of growth through experience. It doesn’t force change from outside.
Also, this proverb doesn’t reject “bitterness.” The sharp edges of youth, immaturity, and difficulty—these aren’t bad things.
They’re necessary stages in the growth process. An astringent persimmon is still a proper persimmon, just at a different stage.
No one starts out complete. We fail, get hurt, feel embarrassed. Through these accumulated experiences, our rough edges gradually smooth out and we gain depth.
Our ancestors tried to convey this obvious but easily forgotten truth through the familiar image of persimmons.
When AI Hears This
The bitterness in astringent persimmons comes from soluble tannin molecules. These molecules are small and water-soluble, so they fit perfectly onto taste receptors on your tongue.
Think of it like small keys fitting into locks. This binding creates the unpleasant sensation of bitterness.
But when persimmons ripen, these tannin molecules start linking together. This is called polymerization.
When small molecules connect by the tens or hundreds into giant clusters, they no longer dissolve in water. They can’t fit into tongue receptors anymore.
So the bitterness disappears not because tannin vanishes, but because it becomes too large for your tongue to detect.
Here’s an interesting paradox. Social “rising up” means gaining more connections and influence.
But at the molecular level, rising up means “becoming unable to directly bind with others” (the tongue receptors). You’ve grown too large to interact closely with individual partners.
From this perspective, truly successful people in human society may also become unreachable by direct interference from the masses.
What the astringent persimmon teaches is that growth is a qualitative change in relationships. It doesn’t necessarily mean “better relationships”—that’s the chemical truth.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches us the importance of believing in others’ growth and waiting patiently. When a new employee keeps making mistakes, or when a child acts rebellious, we want them to change immediately.
But real growth takes time. If you rush and try to force change, you might hurt them and crush their potential for growth.
At the same time, this proverb teaches kindness toward yourself. If you feel immature now, that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
An astringent persimmon is simply one stage of being a persimmon. What matters is maintaining an attitude of continuous learning from experience.
Don’t fear failure. If you absorb something from each experience, you’ll surely move closer to becoming a mature person.
Modern society demands quick results. But inner human growth always requires time, in any era.
You and everyone around you are in the process of ripening at your own pace. If you can warmly watch over and support each other through this process, you’ll surely build rich relationships.
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