The national fruit of Japan: asian persimmons, sometimes called kaki (persimmon in Japanese).
The Ikigai Fruits Eighth Wonder / Chocolate Persimmon Assortment Box is a truly exclusive selection of premium fruits, featuring six carefully chosen Eighth Wonder Persimmons and six rare Chocolate Persimmons. This luxurious box offers both a visual delight and a rich, elegant flavor, making it perfect as a refined gift or a special treat for yourself, and a celebration of the beauty and taste of Niigata’s finest Japanese persimmons.
1. Eighth Wonder Persimmon (Hatchin-gaki) is a premium fruit. This seedless variety from Niigata Prefecture, Japan, derived from the Hiratanenashi persimmon. First discovered in the early Shōwa period in present-day Akiha Ward, it was named “Hatchin,” meaning “Eight Wonder,” to honor its rarity and exceptional quality. This persimmon variety is a gently rounded, slightly flattened shape with a glossy orange to reddish-orange skin that deepens in color as it ripens. The tender, juicy flesh of a Japanese persimmon offers a mellow, rich sweetness that comes from careful removal of astringency. Celebrated for its smooth texture, elegant appearance, and refined flavor, the Eighth Wonder Persimmon beautifully captures the essence of Japan’s autumn harvest.
2. Chocolate Persimmon (Goma Hatchin-gaki) is an exceptionally rare Hatchin Persimmon. This persimmon variety is grown only in select areas of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Like its parent, it is seedless, but its most distinctive feature is the natural black speckling on the flesh, reminiscent of sesame seeds—formed as tannins solidify during full ripening on the tree, a process that cannot be artificially reproduced. This asian persimmon ripens to a vibrant orange to deep reddish-orange with a glossy sheen, and the speckled pattern gives it a unique visual charm. Celebrated as a “phantom persimmon” due to its limited availability, it offers a firm yet tender texture, rich sweetness balanced with subtle natural astringency, and an elegant, refined flavor. Carefully cultivated by a small number of farmers in Nishikan-ku, the Chocolate Persimmon is a rare, region-specific delicacy available only from late autumn to early winter, perfectly capturing the essence of Niigata’s autumn harvest.
