Wednesday, May 22, 2024
On Tuesday, May 21, from 10:00 a.m., 12 fifth-grade students from the Shinryu Elementary School in Hokuryu Town (Sadao Kamata, principal) had a rice planting experience in the rice paddies of Mr. Takada's company in Mitani, Hokuryu Town.
- 1 Rice planting experience for fifth graders of Shinryu Elementary School in Hokuryu Town
- 1.1 Arrangements by Akimitsu Takada, Chairman of the Hokuryu Agricultural Advisors Association
- 1.2 Yasuhiro Sasaki, Mayor of the town joined with students
- 1.3 Greetings on behalf of the students
- 1.4 Students, barefoot, cheerfully taking on the challenge!
- 1.5 question time (e.g. in parliament, diet, etc.)
- 2 Youtube Video
- 3 More Photos
- 4 Related Articles
Rice planting experience for fifth graders of Shinryu Elementary School in Hokuryu Town
At the elementary school, fifth graders are learning about "rice cultivation (rice farming)" during their integrated learning time.
Arrangements by Akimitsu Takada, Chairman of the Hokuryu Agricultural Advisors Association
At the request of the elementary school, Mr. Akimitsu Takada (age 60), president of the Hokuryu Agricultural Advisory Association, arranged for the fifth graders to experience rice planting. The seedlings to be planted were "Nanatsuboshi" rice.
On the day of the event, the weather was worrisome with light rain in the morning, but by the time the students arrived at the field, the rain had stopped and the rice planting experience started without incident.
Yasuhiro Sasaki, Mayor of the town joined with students
On the day of the event, Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki joined the children in planting rice with their bare feet! In addition, Mr. Sadao Kamata, principal of Shinryu Elementary School, paid a pep talk to the children and took pictures with them! Mr. Kitajima from Sorachi Agricultural Extension Center and Mr. Kashima, a reporter of Kita Sorachi Newspaper also visited the event.
Greetings on behalf of the students
I am very grateful for all the preparation you have done for us so far today. This is my first time planting rice, so I am nervous but looking forward to it. I will do my best today, so thank you very much," said a student.
All students cheerfully say, "Nice to meet you!" .
The surrounding rice fields had already been planted. A 5-meter-long field was left and prepared for the students' "rice planting experience.
Students, barefoot, cheerfully taking on the challenge!
Under cloudy skies, the students took on the challenge cheerfully in shorts and barefoot!
Clutching as many seedlings as I could hold in one hand, I sank my feet into the muddy rice paddies, one step at a time.
Proceed slowly and carefully so as not to step on the small seedlings already planted.
Crikey, that's cold!" .
I can't move my legs! I can't move forward!" I can't move forward!
Be careful not to fall," said the teacher.
Please plant the seedlings evenly spaced and firmly so they don't fall over," says Takada.
At first, their feet were caught in the muddy rice paddies, but they gradually became accustomed to it and moved their arms and legs smoothly forward.
I'm not feeling the cold of the water anymore. And I'm getting used to the muddy soil!" (from the "The Muddy Dirt")
The smiling students said, "It was hard work, but we planted well, and it was fun!
Finish by rinsing off the mud-covered limbs with a splash of water.
question time (e.g. in parliament, diet, etc.)
Line up and time for questions to Mr. Takada.
- teacher
Today was a valuable experience for me.
I don't think I would normally go into such a messy muddy mess.
In class, we are also learning about rice farming on the Internet and other sources.
Do you have any questions you would like to ask your students?
- Student.
What is the hardest part of growing rice?
- Akimitsu Takada
The most difficult part is the preparation leading up to rice planting and the creation of seedlings.
As with any crop, if you make good seedlings, you will have good crops.
It is said that the quality of the seedlings determines how well they will do in the fall of the year.
The best way to grow rice is to make good seedlings and grow them soundly. Seedlings are important for any crop.
- Student.
What are your tips for making rice?
- Akimitsu Takada
It is a matter of making good seedlings, planting them carefully, and then carefully managing water, temperature, weeding, etc.
- Student.
What do you do with the harvested rice?
- Akimitsu Takada
Rice is harvested by each farmer and delivered to the agricultural cooperative. The rice is stored in the cooperative's low-temperature warehouse and shipped to customers for sale over the course of a year.
- Thank you on behalf of the students
It was my first time in the rice paddies and it was hard to walk.
I am looking forward to seeing how big it will be when I come back next time. Please take care of my rice plants from now on.
Thank you for your time today!
This is a student who cheerfully expressed his gratitude!
We all said "Thank you!!!!" and thank you to everyone involved.
We expressed our deepest gratitude to all those involved in preparing the event, and boarded a microbus to head back to the school.
The "Rice Planting Experience" is an opportunity for local farmers to learn about the rice they carefully and wholeheartedly grow and to practice some of the rice production tasks.
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers for the students of Shinryu Elementary School as they experience and learn the importance and difficulties of rice farming.
Youtube Video
More Photos
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◇ Reporting and writing by Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editorial assistance by Noboru Terauchi) 
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