Harvesting of sake rice "Suisei" in fiscal year 2022 & first shipment of new rice "Suisei" to be shipped to Ryujin Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Tatebayashi City, Gunma Prefecture)

Thursday, September 15, 2022

On Sunday, September 11th, sake rice was harvested in the Furusaku area.

Under the crisp autumn sky, four combine harvesters are in full operation, harvesting the golden rice one after another in spectacular fashion.

In Hokuryu Town, four farmers, including Yasunori Watanabe, are cultivating the sake rice "Suisei." "This year's rice is in good condition, and we can expect a similar yield to last year," says Yasunori Watanabe.

On Tuesday, September 13th, the first shipment of new rice (non-glutinous rice and glutinous rice) from the 2022 harvest took place at the JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch and Agricultural Product Collection and Shipping Facility.

Harvesting sake rice "Suisei"

Golden Rice Harvest

黄金の稲刈り
Golden Rice Harvest

A powerful combine harvester spitting out rice straw

稲藁を吐き出して、豪快に可動するコンバイン
A combine harvester spits out rice straw and moves vigorously.

Under the clear blue sky...

澄み渡る青空のもと。。。
Under the clear blue sky...

The harvested rice is loaded onto a transport truck...

収穫した籾を搬送トラックに積み込んで。。。
The harvested rice is loaded onto a transport truck...

While basking in the sunlight...

太陽の光を浴びながら。。。
While basking in the sunlight...

Golden ears of rice

黄金に輝く稲穂
Golden ears of rice

First shipment (JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch)

Two days later, on Tuesday, September 13th, the first shipment of new sunflower rice (glutinous rice and non-glutinous rice) from the 2022 harvest was made at the JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch (Branch Manager: Washio Kimitoshi).

JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch Agricultural Product Collection and Shipping Facility

JAきたそらち北竜支所・農産物集出荷施設
JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch Agricultural Product Collection and Shipping Facility

Newly harvested rice loaded into a container and shipped to JA

JAに出荷された新米
Newly harvested rice shipped to JA

Good quality rice grains

状態の良い米粒
Good quality rice grains

Sampling inspection

抜き取り検査
Sampling inspection

Rice is inspected by machine and measured numerically

水稲米機械鑑定で検査し数値測定
Rice is inspected by machine and measured numerically

A speech by Maki Takagi, head of the rice sales department at JA Kitasorachi

新米整粒状況を確認する北清裕邦 地区代表理事、JAきたそらち販売部米穀課・高木 真樹課長 
Representative director of the Hokusei district and Maki Takagi, head of the rice sales department at JA Kitasorachi, check the grain size of the new rice.

"Hokuren introduced us to Ryujin Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. in Gunma Prefecture. They wanted to use rice that is healthy for the body, so they requested sake rice made with reduced-yield rice. They also chose Hokuryu Town, which has the same "dragon" character in its name as the company, and that's how we formed a relationship. We've been doing business for three years now, and we do about 1,000 bales of sake a year.

Ryujin Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. has won the Grand Gold Award in the main category for the second consecutive year at the Delicious Sake in a Wine Glass Awards 2022 for their Oze no Yukidoke Junmai Daiginjo Namazuke.

"The connection with 'dragon' has led to a wonderful connection, and we look forward to brewing delicious sake using sake rice grown in Hokuryu Town in partnership with Ryujin Sake Brewery," said Section Chief Takagi Maki.

Celebration photo

お祝いの記念撮影
Celebration photo

Mayor Yutaka Sano and Hokuryu District Representative Director Hirokuni Kitakiyo give speeches

佐野豊町長、北清裕邦 北竜地区代表理事
Mayor Yutaka Sano (right) and Hokuryu District Representative Director Hirokuni Kitakiyo (left)

"We are very happy with the harvest this autumn, as this is the first shipment of excellent rice," said Mayor Yutaka Sano.

"This year's new rice has low protein content, is well-formed, and there are no white grains like last year. We are looking forward to the yield, so I think this will be a really good year," said Kitakiyo Hirokuni, the district representative director.

素晴らしい出来秋に感謝をこめて!
Thank you for a wonderful autumn harvest!

With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers for the wonderful autumn harvest of the finest new rice, the Hokuryu Town new rice that boasts the finest flavor and is overflowing with the love and vitality of the producers...

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◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi