Meredith, Wow, you were so lucky to live near a produce warehouse in Japan. I hope I can find one when I'm back there. (I'll be in Otsu, near Kyoto.) What other fruits (and veggies) did you regularly eat when you were there, or did you mostly stick to "fuyugaki"? It sounds like "winter persimmons" to me. Is that what the name means? I found out a few weeks ago from a Chilean friend that persimmons are called "kaki" in Chile, and from a Brazilian friend that they're also called "kaki" in Brazil. So maybe they're originally from Japan or that part of Asia. (Of course, it could be the other way around.) I'll be studying Japanese for at least the first three months (I want to immerse myself) and then I'll find a job if I decide to stay there. How do I eat sweet potatoes? I love them as "potato chips", just thinly sliced with the skins on. I also use them to eat guacamole. Enjoy your chips and kakis! Shawn