Tsutomu Kitaoka | The People Supporting Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Tsutomu Kitaoka (Farmer in Higashi Miyoshi) Mizunomaru, located in Higashi Miyoshi, is renowned for strawberry production because of its cool climate. This region is situated at an altitude of approximately 1,000 m. Chikara Kitaoka, a resident of Ofuji village in Mizunomaru, has been cultivating vegetables in Mizunomaru for approximately 40 years. Initially, he cultivated daikon radishes later than normal season and exported them as off-season vegetables during the summer. During that period, daikon radishes were rare in the summer, resulting in a high market value of 200–300 yen per daikon. Subsequently, he cultivated tomatoes and beans within the confines of greenhouses. Mr. Kitaoka says, "Mizunomaru has a high-cool climate with […]
Toshiharu Nishimura | The People Supporting Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Nishimura Farm is situated in Koyadaira, Mima City at the base of Mt. Tsurugi. This farm appears to be situated in a celestial or ethereal location. An indigenous chili pepper variety is cultivated using kaya straw as organic fertilizer. After harvesting, the chili peppers are dried and processed into powder form. The product “Yama-no-Tongarashi” is available for purchase at both roadside stations and online stores. The chili pepper is aromatic and offers a unique combination of sweet and umami flavors with strong spiciness. The taste is so invigorating that many people repeatedly buy this product, saying, “We want to keep it on our tables.” They also cultivate Zuiki, the taro […]
Yumiko Adachi | The People Supporting Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Yumiko Adachi(Farmer in Mima City) In Tsurugi town, a yuzu (Citrus junos) field has been abandoned because of the aging of its owners. Yumiko Adachi and Masatsugu Adachi, who moved from Kyoto to Mima City in 2015, took over the farm and carefully cultivated yuzu. The Adachi family harvests yuzu. Their daughter Uta helped them avoid the large thorns of the trees. Fragrant yuzu is grown without pesticides or fertilizers in areas certified as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites. They produce several types of yuzu kosho (citrus chili paste). Making it with homemade malted rice gives it a gentle flavor and makes our bodies healthier. In addition, the product was […]
Susumu Kawahara | The People Supporting Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System 2023
Susumu Kawahara(Farmer in Higashi-miyoshi town) Susumu Kawahara, a 91-year-old farmer, has been cultivating crops in Mizu-no-maru for nearly 50 years. Mizu-no-maru is situated at an altitude of approximately 1,000 m. At the age of 15, he left his home in Higashi-Miyoshi town to work as a farmer in Okayama Prefecture to cultivate rice, wheat, and grapes. In 1952, he joined the Japan Police Reserve Corps, which later became the Self-Defense Force. He then returned to his hometown in 1957 and worked in the timber transportation industry. However, in 1974, he acquired land in Mizumaru as part of a government project aimed at transforming the area into farmland. Subsequently, he commenced […]
Daiki Magari | The People Supporting Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Daiki Magari (Farmer in Miyoshi City) Oboke in Miyoshi City is the birthplace of royal fern cultivation. The cultivation of royal ferns started in the Taisho era (1912-1926), and at its peak, dozens of households were cultivating them. Mr. Daiki Magari, a tea farmer in Kamimyo, Yamashiro-town, was busy harvesting royal ferns in April. Royal fern farms are in steep areas; therefore, they carefully pick royal ferns on farms steeper than the tea fields. The royal ferns were covered with fluffy hair. They became thicker. Steep slopes are well-drained and suitable for growing royal ferns. Once harvested, the ferns were boiled in a cauldron on the same day. The boiled […]
Wataru Okada | The People Supporting Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Wararu Okada (Farmer in Miyoshi City) Mr. Okada has been growing tea for generations in Yamashiro-town, Miyoshi City, famous for tea production. Yamashiro-town is known for its sencha (green tea) production, and he produces lactic acid-fermented tea called "Awa Bancha.” This type of tea product is only found in a few places in Japan, mainly in the Shikoku Mountains. First, Awa Bancha is characterized by its picking time. Normally, tea sprouts are picked around April; however, for Awa Bancha, tea leaves remain until the end of July. Tea leaves contain more nutrients than sprouts and are more susceptible to lactic acid fermentation. The tea leaves were boiled immediately in a […]
Yoriko Takeoka | The People Supporting Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Yoriko Takeoka(Farmer in Tsurugi town) At Shirataki Kobo in Handa, Tsurugi town, you can get products made from local agricultural products traditionally. Yoriko Takeoka, who runs the shop, was born and raised in Tsurugi town, Tokushima Prefecture. After living in Aichi Prefecture for many years, she returned to her hometown in 2019 to take care of her mother. She began growing vegetables in the fields around her house. With her experience working in a restaurant, she makes prepared food and sells it at farmers’ markets. One of her most popular products is "Yuzu miso," which her mother taught her how to make. Yuzu miso is made from the peel of […]
Sumiko Hinoura | The People Supporting Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Sumiko Hinoura （Farmer in Tsurugi Town ） Sumiko Hinoura grows vegetables and millets in a mountain field that overlooks the Yoshino River. She grows many vegetables throughout the year, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and beans. Every year, she grows buckwheat and amaranth; however, this year, she has started growing common millet. The millet grew well and weighed approximately 40 kg. Threshing was performed with the help of Tsurugi Millet Production Association members. The harvested common millets were wrapped overnight in a mushiro (straw mat) to facilitate threshing. The common millet was removed by stepping on it with one foot. Common millet has a beautiful aroma and chewy texture when cooked […]
Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2022
There is an exibition and workship on Nishi-Awa Steep Slope Agricultural System and Iya millet production Association in Turin, Italy. Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2022: ExhibitionDate: September 22-26, 2022 11:30~12:30Venue: Parco Dora Torino, Turin, Italy Detail >> https://2022.terramadresalonedelgusto.com/en/ Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2022: WorkshopDate: September 25, 2022 11:30~12:30Venue: Parco Dora Torino, Turin, ItalySpeaker: Naoki Naito (Tokushima University)(TBD) "Network Workshop on Advocacy"Detail >> https://2022.terramadresalonedelgusto.com/en/event/asia-pacific-network-workshop-on-advocacy/
Kyoko Tochitani｜The People Supporting Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Kyoko Tochitani (Tsurugi Town / Keka Renovation Project) Mrs. Kyoko Tochitani represents the Keka Renovation Project and is the initiator of Indigo cultivation. She wanted to produce "Edible Indigo" in the Keka district of Tsurugi town, where Indigo cultivation used to be actively carried out. Keka's Indigo is cultivated using traditional farming methods. The fields of Tadeai are covered with kaya straw and fallen leaves. No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used. "Keka's Aifun (Edible Indigo Powder)" is made from dried and powdered indigo leaves grown with great care. Mrs. Tochitani produces and sells this product, which is good for our bodies because she wants consumers to eat Indigo without […]
Shinichi Maeda｜The People Supporting Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Shinichi Maeda (Mima City / Hassaku Orange Farm) Shidehara, in Mima City, is located along the Anabuki River, one of the clearest streams in Shikoku, and is known as a production area of the Hassaku orange. The eight farmers of the "Shidehara Hassaku Orange Production Association," which is certified as Eco-Farmer, ship approximately 50 tons of Hassaku orange annually. The Hassaku orange is grown by skilled farmers using reduced pesticides and organic fertilizers and has been exported to Europe for six years. Mr. Shinichi Maeda is the head of the Shidehara Hassaku Orange Production Association. Sericulture used to flourish in this area. Mr. Maeda's father started growing Hassaku orange in […]
Yoshinobu Fujio and Kinuyo Fujio｜The People Supporting Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Yoshinobu Fujio and Kinuyo Fujio (Wakimachi in Mima City) A field with 600 blueberry trees is in a mountainous area at 400 meters. Mr. Yoshinobu Fujio and his wife, Mrs. Kinuyo, run a blueberry farm in Nishi-Otani, Wakimachi, Mima city.Mr. Yoshinobu took early retirement from his company when he was 51 years old and started farming in 2006. He started growing blueberries to use them as an ingredient for his wife’s bread making.In the first year, they planted about 80 blueberry trees. Each year, they added more trees, and now they grow 600 blueberry trees of 60 different varieties without any pesticides. The dark-purple-colored blueberries are harvested annually from the […]