Axillary buds of Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thun. cv. 'Hiratanenashi') were decontaminated, their budscales removed aseptically and placed in modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 4.5~zeatin. Over 60% of the buds initiated shoots in 6 weeks. A multiplication rate of over lO-fold could be achieved in 6-8 weeks by two transfers (shoot proliferation and shoot elongation) in the same medium. Attempts to initiate shoots from meristem tips were unsuccessful. Using shoots that are > 25 mm long, c. 85% rooting was accomplished over a 6-week period in diluted (nitrogen content, 1/4 strength; other nutrients, 1/2 strength) MS medium containing 2% activated charcoal and 4.9~indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) with a liquid overlay of the undiluted medium containing 4.5~trans-zeatin (t-Z). Techniques are also described for the regeneration of whole plants from leaf segments (from in vitro propagated plants) using a combination of t-Z (10~and anyone of three auxins tested-indole-3-acetic acid, IBA or (Xnaphthalene acetic acid (0.001-0.01 JlM). The presence of auxins was not essential but slightly accelerated the organogenic callus formation and organogenesis. Rooted plantlets were planted into a mixture of peat, perlite, and CaC0 3 and acclimatised in a fog tent for 4-8 weeks.