{"id":73640,"date":"2026-04-17T15:36:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T06:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/?p=73640"},"modified":"2026-04-20T06:31:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T21:31:03","slug":"%ef%bc%88%e6%a0%aa%ef%bc%89%e3%81%bf%e3%81%9a%e3%81%bb-%e5%af%86%e8%8b%97%e3%81%ae%e6%97%85-2026-%e7%ac%ac3%e4%be%bf-%ef%bd%9c-%e5%a4%a7%e5%9c%b0%e3%82%92%e7%9b%ae%e8%a6%9a%e3%82%81%e3%81%95%e3%81%9b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/73640\/","title":{"rendered":"Mizuho Co., Ltd.'s Dense Seedling Journey 2026, Third Shipment | Spring Overture to Awaken the Earth - Plowing and Sweet Corn Sowing Begins"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday, April 17, 2026<\/p>\n

\nOn Thursday, April 16th, spring work began in earnest at the Mizuho Co., Ltd. farm in Hokuryu Town. In the warehouse, rice seeds absorbed plenty of water, waiting for the time to sprout, and in the greenhouse, sowing of sweet corn "Sunny Chocolat" began. In the rice paddies, self-steering tractors quietly and powerfully tilled the soil, carving precise lines. Sowing seeds, tilling the soil, and the chain of life leading to the harvest in July. The honest work of agriculture in Hokuryu Town has begun here once again this year.<\/div>\n

Quiet activities inside the warehouse - Dense seedling and rice seed germination work<\/h2>\n

"At Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative, the hot water disinfection process involves soaking the rice seeds in 60\u00b0C water for 10 minutes, then immersing them in 10\u00b0C water for 5 minutes, and finally drying them. This hot water disinfection of the rice seeds is a method that kills pathogens using the power of heat without using chemical pesticides, and it is effective in preventing diseases such as rice blast and bakanae disease (a disease in which seedlings grow too tall and die)," explains Tomoya Nishino in detail.<\/p>\n

After the hot water disinfection at Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative, the rice seeds are first subjected to "seed soaking."<\/p>\n

The seeds are slowly immersed in water at approximately 10\u00b0C for 10 days, gradually reviving their life. After that, they are soaked for 24 hours in a germinator containing 30\u00b0C water with added vinegar. Adding vinegar at this stage helps prevent bacterial diseases that infect seeds, including brown stripe disease.
\nIn this "germination" process, the seedlings develop a "pigeon chest" state with sprouts and roots about 1 mm long. After that, they are carefully dried and prepared for sowing.<\/p>\n

Currently, there are two tanks, but the amount of rice seeds will be gradually increased, eventually reaching four. The water is circulated by a pump and changed every three days.<\/p>\n

Without rushing or panicking, we work in harmony with nature's rhythm, delivering the seeds to the soil in the best possible condition. This quiet accumulation of preparation leads to a bountiful harvest in autumn.<\/p>\n

\"Seeding\"<\/a>
Seeding<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"One<\/a>
One bag contains 5 kg of seeds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tomoya<\/a>
Tomoya Nishino explains the seed germination machine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
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Related articles<\/div>\n
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\n Rice seed sterilization device makes its debut at JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu branch - Hokuryu Town Portal (Hokkaido) - Japan's No. 1 Sunflower Village<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
A breathtaking Japanese landscape: the "Sunflower Village" in Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido. A popular tourist spot in Hokkaido. Please visit it at least once. (Rice Sommelier...).<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \"Rice\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

Seeds of hope spreading throughout the greenhouse - Sunny Chocolat seed sowing<\/h2>\n

Variety and scale<\/h3>\n

This year's sweet corn is "Sunny Chocolat," a variety renowned for its sweetness and flavor. Mizuho Co., Ltd. is now in its third year of cultivation, steadily building up experience and technology.<\/p>\n