The first Japanese Plum is ripe today 20th July 2014 Posted on July 20, 2014September 18, 2022 by qwertyqweryt61 Methley is the first of our Japanese plums that is ripe today. Many more to come in the next week. The taste is very sweet and juicy with the flesh being bright red. The variety Shiro is not far behind being ripe, maybe another week.