Friday, June 6, 2025
On Tuesday, June 3rd, Mayor Sasaki explored the town's attractions.
This month, we paid a visit to encourage Yokota Osamu (31 years old) and Yokokura Ken, who are doing their internship at Takada Akimitsu Farm as local revitalization cooperation team members, as well as Ishii Takahiro (Section Chief, Child and Life Support Division, Family Registry and Citizen Life Division) and Matsuoka Akira, who are helping out at the farm by taking advantage of the side job system for town hall employees.
Regional revitalization cooperation team members: Osamu Yokota and Ken Yokokura
Osamu Yokota and Ken Yokokura, trainee members of the local revitalization cooperation team, carried out pruning work inside the greenhouse.
Tomoyuki Tamashima, a senior trainee, carefully explained the "pruning" method to Yokota. Takada's wife was impressed and said, "Tama-chan, you're good at teaching."
Mayor Sasaki Yasuhiro helps out
Mayor Sasaki was helping mix organic fertilizer into the water that goes into the irrigation tubes while talking with Mr. Takada Akimitsu about various future business developments.
Takahiro Ishii visits section chief Akira Matsuoka to offer encouragement
After visiting Takada Farm, we stopped by the town hall and then headed to Akira Matsuoka's house, accompanied by Mr. Takahiro Ishii (age 33), section chief of the town hall's Children and Life Support Division.
Child and Life Support Division, Chief, Takahiro Ishii
After joining the town hall, Takahiro Ishii worked for the Board of Education for three years and then in the Resident Affairs Division, marking his seventh year with the office this year.
On April 1st of this year, the town of Hokuryu established a system allowing town employees to have side jobs. The first employee to do so was Takahiro Ishii of the Children and Lifestyle Support Division, who started a side job helping out Akira Matsuoka on his farm.
"The opportunity to start a side job came when Mr. Matsuoka asked me to help out on his farm. The conditions and dates were presented to me at the Resident Affairs Section, and I accepted on the spot.
I also play tennis with Mr. Matsuoka and he has been very helpful to me on a daily basis.
I had no experience in farm work, so I had no idea what I would be doing. On the day, I helped with picking seedlings and carrying them. It was only two days, but I got really strong.
Since agriculture is the main industry in Hokuryu Town, I think it is very important for town hall employees to have this kind of experience. And for me, who had no experience in agriculture, I felt that it was a valuable experience.
I'm surprised because I never imagined that I would end up helping out on a farm.
In the future, I hope to be able to help out in various ways during the busy farming season in the fall, when the harvest takes place. This is a time when farmers need help, so I think I will be of help."
Yasuhiro Sasaki Mayor
"During discussions with employees, the side job regulations were created and institutionalized. We were wondering how to actually put them into practice when Mr. Matsuoka contacted us.
I think it's very important to learn about agriculture in this town. I've heard from Section Chief Ishii that it will be a good experience for me.
I hope that Chief Ishii's activities will inspire all staff members to learn more about and become interested in agriculture in Kitaryū Town.
I hope we will be able to help out during each farming season in the future," said Mayor Sasaki Yasuhiro.
Akira Matsuoka
Before taking up farming at his wife's family home, Akira Matsuoka (69 years old) worked as a specialist instructor operating sonar (sound detectors) on submarines at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Yokosuka Base (Kanagawa Prefecture).
The specialist job of operating a submarine's sonar is a field that requires an extremely high level of expertise and experience, even within the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. His outstanding skills and knowledge, as well as his ability as a leader, were recognized, and he was given the heavy responsibility of being an instructor, entrusted with training the next generation.
He is currently taking on a new challenge in the completely different world of agriculture.
"This system is truly wonderful and the best!
For the person making the request, it would be a win-win and more enjoyable for both parties to get help from someone they know locally rather than a complete stranger working part-time at a temporary staffing agency!
Town hall employees should not neglect their main duties, but I think it would be good for them to make good use of their days off on weekends and be more active.
During rice planting and harvesting seasons, there is a shortage of manpower, so I think farmers would be happy if town office staff could help out at such times.
"In the future, I will be doing grass cutting work and other tasks, so I look forward to working with you," said Matsuoka with a smile.
With boundless love, gratitude and prayer for the great spirit in which the town employees, through the town's side job system, have come to know and understand agriculture, Hokuryu's core industry, and, together with the local revitalization cooperation team members, have come together as one to cooperate and support one another and revitalize agriculture in Hokuryu...
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◇ ◇ Photography, editing and website management: Noboru Terauchi Writer: Ikuko Terauchi
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