{"id":60888,"date":"2025-07-11T11:36:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T02:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/?p=60888"},"modified":"2025-07-12T23:00:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-12T14:00:58","slug":"%e6%8e%a1%e3%82%8c%e3%81%9f%e3%81%a6%e3%81%af%e6%a0%bc%e5%88%a5%e3%81%ae%e5%91%b3%ef%bc%81%e6%9c%ad%e5%b9%8c%e3%81%ae%e5%b0%8f%e5%ad%a6%e7%94%9f%e3%81%8c%e5%8c%97%e7%ab%9c%e7%94%ba%e3%81%a7%e6%84%9f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/60888\/","title":{"rendered":"Freshly picked asparagus tastes exceptional! Elementary school students from Sapporo have an exciting asparagus harvesting experience in Hokuryu Town (Genki Village, Dream Farm School @ Kinosha Farm Co., Ltd.)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday, July 11, 2025<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, July 2nd, nine sixth graders from Sapporo Municipal Heiwadori Elementary School visited Kinoya Farm Co., Ltd. in Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido, on a school trip. As part of the "Genki Village Dream Farm School" program, the students experienced harvesting and tasting asparagus. The students were impressed by the taste of the fresh asparagus they had just harvested, exclaiming, "It's different from usual!" Through heartwarming interactions with farmers, it was a valuable time for them to learn about the importance of food and the blessings of nature.<\/div>\n

Elementary school students from Sapporo experience farming at a farm in Hokuryu Town<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

"Genki Village Dream Rural Academy" Initiative<\/h3>\n

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).<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n\n

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Related articles<\/div>\n
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\n Genki Village and Dream Rural Academy<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
Genki Village\/Dream Rural School is an organization in the northern Sorachi region of Hokkaido that offers rural life experiences. You too can experience rural life...<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \"Genki\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

Nojo Kinoya Co., Ltd. (Hokuryu Town)<\/h3>\n
\"Naoki<\/a>
Naoki and Kimi Shiraoka<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Asparagus<\/a>
Asparagus Forest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Naoki
Naoki Shiraoka | Farm Kinoya<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Let's go and experience asparagus harvesting!<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

6th grade students from Sapporo Municipal Heiwadori Elementary School<\/h4>\n
\"9<\/a>
9 sixth grade students from Sapporo Municipal Heiwadori Elementary School<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lecture on harvesting methods<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Asparagus<\/a>
Asparagus cutting scissors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Explaining<\/a>
Explaining harvesting methods<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Students<\/a>
Students receiving an explanation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Harvest time filled with smiles<\/h3>\n

"I found some amazing asparagus!"
\n"You harvested a lot."
\n"I want to eat it now!"<\/p>\n

Inside the house, the sounds of children's lively and happy voices fill the air.<\/p>\n

\"Asparagus<\/a>
Asparagus harvesting experience in the forest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"I<\/a>
I found some great asparagus!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tasting freshly picked fruit! "It's delicious!" exclaimed the impressed customers.<\/h2>\n

We head to Shiraoka's house with a basket full of freshly harvested asparagus.<\/p>\n

We harvested so many!<\/h4>\n
\"I<\/a>
I harvested this much!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Neatly arranged shoes<\/h4>\n

One of the students noticed this and carefully lined up everyone's shoes at the entrance of their home. This thoughtfulness was heartwarming.<\/p>\n

\"Neatly<\/a>
Neatly arranged shoes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Exceptional taste! Freshly picked asparagus<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Wash<\/a>
Wash it thoroughly...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Washed<\/a>
Washed and cut asparagus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Just<\/a>
Just boil it!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Steaming<\/a>
Steaming freshly boiled asparagus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

"Delicious!"
\n"I can eat as much as I want!"
\n"It tastes different from regular asparagus! It's really delicious!"<\/p>\n

\"Delicious!<\/a>
Delicious! The best!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The children's voices of excitement rose one after another. Principal Masutani also munched on the asparagus with gusto along with the students.<\/p>\n

The freshly picked asparagus disappeared in no time.<\/p>\n

\"delicious!\"<\/a>
delicious!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"I<\/a>
I ate it all! It was delicious!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cheers with juice!<\/h4>\n

After finishing the asparagus, we toasted with the drinks provided!!!<\/p>\n

\"Drink<\/a>
Drink service after the meal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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!<\/p>\n

\"Tidy<\/a>
Tidy up properly too!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Wow,<\/a>
Wow, amazing!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"My<\/a>
My beloved cat Ann was also loved...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The story of Naoki Shiraoka<\/h2>\n
\"Naoki<\/a>
Naoki and Kimi Shiraoka with rice paddies in the background<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

"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.<\/p>\n

There was "nothingness" here, and I realized that humans are also a part of nature.<\/p>\n

"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.<\/p>\n

\"With<\/a>
With gratitude for the blessings of nature!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

YouTube videos<\/h2>\n