Freshly picked asparagus tastes special! Elementary school students from Sapporo have an exciting asparagus harvesting experience in Hokuryu Town (Genki Village, Dream Farm School @ Kinosha Farm Co., Ltd.)

Friday, July 11, 2025

Nine sixth graders from Heiwadori Elementary School in Sapporo visited Farm Kinosha Co., Ltd. in Hokuryu, Hokkaido on a school trip. As part of the Genki Mura Dream Farm School program, the students experienced harvesting and tasting asparagus. They were impressed by the taste of the fresh asparagus they had just harvested, exclaiming, "It's different from usual!" Through heartwarming exchanges with farmers, it was a valuable time for them to learn about the importance of food and the blessings of nature.

Elementary school students from Sapporo experience farming at a farm in Hokuryu Town

On Wednesday, July 2nd, Mr. and Mrs. Naoki Shiraoka, the representative of Farm Kinosha Co., Ltd., who live in Hokuryu Town, hosted a group of nine students from Sapporo Municipal Heiwadori Elementary School as part of their two-day, one-night school trip to experience farming. They harvested asparagus and had a taste experience.

"Genkimura Dream Rural Academy" Initiatives

Genki Mura Dream Rural School is an organization that accepts people to experience rural life and farming in the Kita Sorachi region of Hokkaido (Fukagawa City, Imobeushi Town, Chishibetsu Town, Hokuryu Town, and Numata Town).

The group began its activities in 2002 with a rice planting experience at the Fukagawa campus of Clark Memorial International High School, and aims to increase the number of people who understand agriculture by accepting students on school trips, mainly from urban areas.

Genkimura Dream Village School

Genki Mura Yume no Noson Juku is an organization that accepts people to experience rural life in the Kita Sorachi region of Hokkaido. Why not become a member of Noson Juku?

Nojo Kinoya Co., Ltd. (Hokuryu Town)

Naoki and Kimi Shiraoka
Naoki and Kimi Shiraoka

It has been 18 years since asparagus cultivation began in the asparagus greenhouse of Mr. Shiraoka of Farm Kinoya Co., Ltd. Asparagus is a time-consuming and labor-intensive crop that is harvested three years after the seedlings are planted.

Asparagus Forest
Asparagus Forest
Naoki Shiraoka | Farm Kinoya
Naoki Shiraoka | Farm Kinoya

Let's go and experience asparagus harvesting!

At 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2nd, the bus arrived and nine students, accompanied by Principal Shinobu Masutani, headed to the asparagus house at Shiraoka Farm.

6th grade students of Sapporo Municipal Heiwadori Elementary School

9 sixth grade students from Sapporo Municipal Heiwadori Elementary School
9 sixth grade students from Sapporo Municipal Heiwadori Elementary School

Lecture on harvesting methods

After listening intently to Shiraoka's explanation of how to harvest and things to be careful of, we grabbed scissors and harvesting baskets and headed into the greenhouse, which resembles an "asparagus forest" and is filled with lush green leaves. We searched for thick, sturdy asparagus that were about 27cm long and harvested them.

Asparagus cutting scissors
Asparagus cutting scissors
Explaining the harvesting method
Explaining the harvesting method
Students receiving an explanation
Students receiving an explanation

Harvest time filled with smiles

"I found some amazing asparagus!"
"You harvested a lot."
"I want to eat it now!"

Inside the house, the sounds of children's lively and happy chatter fill the air.

Experience harvesting asparagus in the forest
Experience harvesting asparagus in the forest
I found some great asparagus!
I found some great asparagus!

Tasting the freshly picked fruit! "It's delicious!" exclaimed the impressed customers.

Carrying a basket full of freshly harvested asparagus, we head to Shiraoka's house.

We harvested so much!

This is how much we harvested!
This is how much we harvested!

Neatly arranged shoes

One of the students noticed and carefully lined up everyone's shoes at the entrance of their home. This thoughtfulness is heartwarming.

Neatly arranged shoes
Neatly arranged shoes

Exceptional taste! Freshly picked asparagus

His wife, Kimi, skillfully washed and boiled the asparagus in the kitchen. We enjoyed the steaming, shiny asparagus with mayonnaise, salt, or whatever seasoning we liked.

Wash it nicely.
Wash it nicely.
Washed and cut asparagus
Washed and cut asparagus
Just boil it!
Just boil it!
Steaming freshly boiled asparagus
Steaming freshly boiled asparagus

"Delicious!"
"I can eat as much as I want!"
"It tastes different from regular asparagus! It's really delicious!"

Delicious! The best!
Delicious! The best!

The children were heard expressing their excitement one after another. Principal Masutani also munched on the asparagus with gusto along with the students.

The freshly picked asparagus disappeared in no time.

delicious!
delicious!
I ate it all! It was delicious!
I ate it all! It was delicious!

Cheers with juice!

After finishing the asparagus, we toasted with the drinks that were provided!!!

Drink service after the meal
Drink service after the meal

The principal said, "You have some time before the bus pick-up, so you can go for a walk outside or spend time at home. Feel free to do as you like," and everyone was free to do as they pleased around the house!

Tidy up properly too!
Tidy up properly too!

The children played with Shiraoka's beloved cat "Ann-chan," played with Shiraoka's grandchild's toys, showed off their gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics skills, and had a great time with endless laughter.

Wow, amazing!
Wow, amazing!
My pet cat Ann was also loved.
My pet cat Ann was also loved.

Story by Naoki Shiraoka

Naoki and Kimi Shiraoka with rice paddies in the background
Naoki and Kimi Shiraoka with rice paddies in the background

"It's been 22 years since I started farming. Here, I can hear the sound of flowing water in the canals, the flapping of birds and insects' wings, and the chorus of frogs at night. This is a small town where there should be nothing, but if you listen carefully, you can hear the lively and pleasant sounds.

I realized that there was "nothing" here and that humans are also a part of nature.

"Hokuryu Town has a large difference in temperature between day and night, making it an ideal place for growing crops, so we are grateful for the blessings of nature," Shiraoka said with a gentle smile.

With gratitude for the blessings of nature!
With gratitude for the blessings of nature!

With boundless love, gratitude and prayers, we send our best wishes to Genki Village Rural Academy, where participants can experience farming in the great outdoors of Kita-Sorachi and experience the importance and deliciousness of food through warm interactions with farmers.

Youtube Video

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◇ ◇ Photography, editing and website management: Noboru Terauchi Writer: Ikuko Terauchi

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