In May this year, loquat grower Kenzo Takeba showed The Japan Times around his farm in Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture, explaining how he cultivates the soft, juicy fruit that contributes so much to the local economy.
Last week, Takeba was contemplating the damage done by Typhoon Faxai, which ripped through the area on Sept. 9, devastating the loquat-growing industry, damaging homes and businesses and leaving residents without electricity for over two weeks.
"I originally had about 30 trees, and about 27 of those were blown over," said Takeba. "If I start planting young trees now, it will be about five to seven years before they start to bear fruit. I will have no harvest until then."