Our home town is called Kawanishi. Kawanishi is located in the southeast part of Hyogo prefecture. The city’s north side is somewhat mountainous, and part of this area has been designated as part of the Prefectural Inagawa Ravine Natural Park. Kawanishi is famous for its peaches, figs, charcoal, and chestnuts. Peaches produced only in Kawanishi can be picked one month earlier than the ordinary ones which are picked in July. Pollination is done by hand, using a stick with a cotton ball on the end. Kawanishi is famous for its mellow and fresh figs all over Japan, and we produce about 600 tons per year. Charcoal has been produced in the northern part of the city for 700 years. There were 40 families making charcoal during the peak period, but now only three families are keeping the tradition alive. The charcoal produced here is called “chrysanthemum charcoal,” because they look like a chrysanthemum flower, and they are quick to catch fire, burn long, and are hard to put out. Many varieties of chestnuts are cultivated in the middle and northern part of the city from late September to early October. There is an annual chestnut fair held here every October.