Friday, July 11, 2025
Elementary school students from Sapporo experience farming at a farm in Hokuryu Town
On Wednesday, July 2nd, Mr. and Mrs. Naoki Shiraoka, CEO of Kinoya Farm Co., Ltd., who live in Hokuryu Town, hosted a group of nine sixth grade students from Sapporo Municipal Heiwadori Elementary School as part of their two-day, one-night school trip for an agricultural experience. They harvested asparagus and had the opportunity to taste it.
"Genki Village Dream Rural Academy" Initiative
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 people's understanding of agriculture by accepting students on school trips, mainly from urban areas.
Nojo Kinoya Co., Ltd. (Hokuryu Town)
It has been 18 years since Mr. Shiraoka of Farm Kinoya Co., Ltd. began cultivating asparagus in his greenhouse. Asparagus is a time-consuming and labor-intensive crop that is harvested three years after planting.
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 Shiraoka Farm's asparagus house.
6th grade students from Sapporo Municipal Heiwadori Elementary School
Lecture on harvesting methods
After listening carefully to Shiraoka's explanation of how to harvest and what 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 search for thick, large asparagus pieces, about 27cm long, and harvest them.
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 voices fill the air.
Tasting freshly picked fruit! "It's delicious!" exclaimed the impressed customers.
We head to Shiraoka's house with a basket full of freshly harvested asparagus.
We harvested so many!
Neatly arranged shoes
One of the students noticed this and carefully lined up everyone's shoes at the entrance of their home. This thoughtfulness was heartwarming.
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.
"Delicious!"
"I can eat as much as I want!"
"It tastes different from regular asparagus! It's really delicious!"
The children's voices of excitement rose one after another. Principal Masutani also munched on the asparagus with gusto along with the students.
The freshly picked asparagus disappeared in no time.
Cheers with juice!
After finishing the asparagus, we toasted with the drinks provided!!!
The principal said, "There is some time before the bus pick-up, so feel free to go for a walk outside or stay at home and spend it however you like," and everyone was free to do as they pleased inside the house!
The children played with Shiraoka's beloved cat, "Ann-chan," played with Shiraoka's grandchildren's toys, showed off gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics skills, and had a great time, filled with endless laughter.
The story of Naoki Shiraoka
"It's been 22 years since I started farming. Here, I can hear the sound of the water flowing in the canals, the flapping of birds and insects' wings, and the chorus of frogs at night. This is a small town that should have nothing going on, but if you listen carefully, you can hear the lively and pleasant sounds.
There was "nothingness" here, and I realized that humans are also a part of nature.
"Hokuryu Town has a large temperature difference between day and night, making it an ideal climate for growing crops, so we are grateful for the blessings of nature," said Shiraoka with a gentle smile.
With boundless love, gratitude and prayers, we send our heartfelt thanks to Genki Village and Rural School, 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 videos
Other photos
Related articles and sites
![[252] Naoki Shiraoka - Hokuryu Town Portal (Hokkaido) - Japan's No. 1 Sunflower Village](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n8kM741lUYk/VXfbM8U4MPI/AAAAAAAB1FM/eVq7-L2EkOI/w1308-h872-no/20150609_DSC8007.jpg)
![[253] Norimi Shiraoka - Hokuryu Town Portal (Hokkaido) - Japan's No. 1 Sunflower Village](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xLOjPB4Q9P0/VXfbiOmJq9I/AAAAAAAB1F0/5HR8XwSR3U4/w1308-h872-no/20150609_DSC8000.jpg)
![[254] Kimiko Okamoto - Hokuryu Town Portal (Hokkaido) - Japan's No. 1 Sunflower Village](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iJd3idzcAGw/VXfb3mE_1vI/AAAAAAAB1Gc/x0LAMrl9QVM/w1308-h872-no/20150609_DSC8087.jpg)
◇ Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi Writer: Ikuko Terauchi
![July 10th (Thursday) Grade 4 Maths: "Rounding Up" ~ Students now understand the meaning of rounding and can round to the nearest 10th place. [Shinryu Elementary School]](https://portal.hokuryu.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-07-11-7.48.24-375x255.jpg)
