{"id":74318,"date":"2026-05-08T09:36:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T00:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/?p=74318"},"modified":"2026-05-08T09:14:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T00:14:32","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%ac4%e4%be%bf-%ef%bd%9c-%e3%82%b7%e3%83%ab%e3%83%90%e3%83%bc%e3%83%9d%e3%83%aa%e3%81%ae%e4%b8%8b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/74318\/","title":{"rendered":"Mizuho Co., Ltd.'s Journey of Dense Seedlings 2026, Part 4 | Life Awakening Under Silver Polyethylene - The Front Lines of Seedling Cultivation Supporting 100 Hectares"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday, May 8, 2026<\/p>\n

On Sunday, May 3rd, at Mizuho Co., Ltd.'s (President and CEO: Masami Komatsu) seedling greenhouses, rice seedlings that had sprouted under the silver poly sheets all emerged at once. Sowing, seedling cultivation, and puddling, which support 100 hectares, are all progressing simultaneously at this site, where "all-purpose agricultural materials" that are the culmination of agricultural cooperative guidance and the wisdom of previous generations, as well as meticulous logistics that manage six greenhouses in just 12 days, are at work.<\/div>\n

The moment the silver plastic covering is removed, the seedlings begin to breathe.<\/h2>\n

On Sunday, May 3rd, in the morning, when I visited Mizuho Co., Ltd.'s seedling greenhouse, the staff were in the midst of carefully peeling off the long stretches of silver sheeting that had been laid out.<\/p>\n

\"Sheet<\/a>
Sheet removal work<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rice<\/a>
Rice seedlings growing rapidly (6 days after sowing)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

"It's grown quite a bit since yesterday."
\n"Wow, it's grown so much since this morning. It wasn't this much this morning."<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And the interaction with the staff.<\/p>\n

The rice seedlings that have emerged from beneath the silver polyethylene film have visibly grown taller in just one day, or even just a few hours.<\/p>\n

Three effects of "all-purpose material" Silver Poly<\/h2>\n

What is the purpose of using silver polyethylene sheets? Tomoya Nishino explained each of their roles to us.<\/p>\n

\""You've<\/a>
"You've grown quite a bit."<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Seedling<\/a>
Seedling trays covered with silver sheets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2460 90% Shade - Protects seedlings from excessively strong sunlight<\/h3>\n

"This silver polyethylene film (90%) blocks sunlight, suppressing temperature increases inside the greenhouse. It is particularly effective in preventing high-temperature damage during the germination and greening stages, as well as 'seedling burn,' which causes seedlings to turn brown and burn. When seedling burn occurs, the tips of the leaves wither, growth stops, and the seedlings become unusable."<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

"To prevent root burn and seedling burn, we use silver polyethylene to block strong light, allowing only a small amount of light (10%) to pass through, thus ensuring uniform sprouting. This is a light management technique used to ensure consistent sprouting numbers and timing, and it is fundamental to rice cultivation in Hokkaido," explains Mr. Nishino.<\/p>\n

\"Tomoya<\/a>
Tomoya Nishino explains in detail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2461 Heat retention effect \u2013 Protects lives from the spring chill<\/h3>\n

"At the same time, it has heat retention and moisture retention effects. It has the effect of maintaining temperature, making it a very good all-purpose agricultural material."<\/p>\n

The heat-retaining effect of the silver poly sheet protects the seedlings from nighttime chills and ensures a suitable temperature, promoting healthy root growth (healthy seedling development).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Maintaining the correct temperature in the seedbed during the most delicate period from sowing to germination is directly related to saving the seedlings' lives.<\/p>\n

The greenhouse is kept open all night to control the temperature, but underneath, the silver polyethylene sheeting acts as a double temperature barrier.<\/p>\n

\u2462 Moisturizing and water-retaining effect \u2013 Minimize watering.<\/h3>\n

"The moderate coverage provided by the sheet prevents moisture evaporation from the soil in the seedling trays. Because it becomes less prone to drying out, the frequency of daily watering can be reduced, thus easing the workload."<\/p>\n

With the sheet laid down, moisture cannot escape, and watering is unnecessary for about 6 days after sowing. After removing it, once the top dries in about an hour, the mud will settle and cover the base of the seedlings.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This technology makes the most of the mechanics of plants, like a dialogue with nature.<\/p>\n

The silver coating process takes 6 days.<\/h3>\n

When asked, "How many days will this take?", Tomoya Nishino replied<\/p>\n

"We usually apply the silver coating for about six days, but for those of you growing in pots, it's usually about a week. It varies depending on the weather, and in some years, we can't apply the silver coating for about 10 days. But generally, with honey seedlings, we can apply the silver coating within about a week at the latest."<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And tomorrow, the silver harvesting will continue at another greenhouse. A non-stop relay has begun to deliver seedlings to 100 hectares of land.<\/p>\n

"Six buildings in 12 days" - The brilliance of meticulous logistics.<\/h2>\n
\"Agricultural<\/a>
Agricultural design based on meticulous logistics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here, Tomoya Nishino shared the core of Mizuho's spring work \u2013 it was the logistics of "not lining up the six buildings every day."<\/p>\n

"Instead of lining up all six greenhouses every day, today is the day for sowing seeds, and tomorrow is the day for lining them up. We line up just one greenhouse at a time. We continue working on all six greenhouses alternately for 12 days."<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We alternate between sowing the seeds and arranging the seedling trays in the greenhouse. If we do it all at once, the subsequent processes won't be able to keep up, and the seedlings won't grow uniformly. Because of the scale of 100 hectares, spreading it out over 12 days is crucial for our success.<\/p>\n

In front of the seed planter \u2014 SUZUTEC\u30fbISHII relay<\/h2>\n
\"Covering<\/a>
Covering with soil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inside the warehouse, seeding machines were silently in operation. Machines from SUZUTEC and ISHII were lined up, filling seedling trays with soil, fertilizer, and rice seeds.<\/p>\n

Each time a seedling tray passes through the machine, the seeds are evenly scattered, covered with soil, and then passed on to the next person at the end of the conveyor belt. The scene resembles a factory assembly line, but what is being handled are the eggs of life\u2014rice seeds.<\/p>\n

\"Seeding<\/a>
Seeding work<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Suzutec<\/a>
Suzutec Seeder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Adding<\/a>
Adding soil to seedling trays, fertilizer, rice seeds, and then pouring in a layer of covering soil.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Fertilizer<\/a>
Fertilizer spreading<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rice<\/a>
Rice seed floating<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Replenishing<\/a>
Replenishing rice seeds and soil.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The work, which was not left entirely to machines but added by human eyes and hands, embodied the true essence of large-scale agriculture where mechanization and manual labor coexist.<\/p>\n

In the rice paddies further back, the plowing process has begun.<\/h2>\n

Leaving the greenhouse and looking towards the rice paddies in the distance, I saw a red tractor already beginning the puddling process in the flooded fields. This is the work of mixing the soil and water to prepare the bed for rice planting.<\/p>\n

"How many days would it take to cover 100 hectares?"
\n"It takes about a week. We start planting rice on May 15th, but until then we're constantly tilling the soil. After we do the rough tilling, we till it again. We even do it in the back areas during rice planting."<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With rice planting scheduled to begin on Friday, May 15th, sowing, seedling cultivation, and puddling are all happening simultaneously \u2013 that's the spring scene at Mizuho's farm.<\/p>\n

\"Rough<\/a>
Rough scrubbing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Komatsu Tsutomu's impressions of operating a tractor for rough plowing.<\/h2>\n
\"Tsutomu<\/a>
Tsutomu Komatsu shares his thoughts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

"Until now, I'd never really stared at mountains or the sky, but now I find myself looking at them intently again."<\/p>\n

I was just watching something without thinking about anything, and I was surprised because I didn't think I would feel that way myself.<\/p>\n

I'm having fun learning from everyone.<\/p>\n

Right now we're doing some rough plowing, and our tractor is a bit smaller than everyone else's, but it still has a device that automatically guides it in a straight line.<\/p>\n

Even an inexperienced amateur like me can manage somehow, so I'm very grateful. Thank you."<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is Tsutomu Komatsu, who started working in agriculture this year.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The straight line is driven by an autonomous tractor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The rice paddies are prepared by repeatedly plowing and tilling.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Representative<\/a>
Representative Komatsu himself carried out the rice paddy preparation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

"Seedling burn," "evening out the grain"\u2014the philosophy of rice farming embodied in these words.<\/h2>\n

What impressed me most during the interview was the way Tomoya Nishino naturally uttered a variety of specialized terms related to rice farming.<\/p>\n

"Seedling burn," "evening out the grain," "puddling," "rough plowing"\u2014these are all words that describe nature. However, behind each of these words lies the crystallization of the experience of farmers who have faced the weather year after year, and the regional wisdom accumulated by the instructors of JA Kitasorachi.<\/p>\n

"The training content is something everyone does," says a staff member. ...But within that "thing everyone does," the history of rice farming in Hokkaido and the practices that have been passed down through generations are quietly alive.<\/p>\n

\"Rice<\/a>
Rice paddies awaiting plowing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The following day, May 4th (Monday): Transporting seedling trays and arranging them inside the greenhouse.<\/h2>\n

Sowing began on Monday, April 27th, and on Monday, May 4th, seedling trays were lined up in the fourth greenhouse.<\/p>\n

The seedling trays (each containing 150 bags of rice seeds, weighing approximately 640-650 kg) are loaded onto 18 pallets lined up in the warehouse and represent the contents of one greenhouse. These are transported in shuttles using four light trucks.<\/p>\n

\"Seedling<\/a>
Seedling tray pallets lined up inside the warehouse (18 pallets)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A forklift loading rice trays onto a light truck.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The forklift honks its horn to manage the overall progress.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inside the greenhouse, President Masami Komatsu took the lead in the task, and all 12 people gathered to arrange the seedling trays.<\/p>\n

\"Seed<\/a>
Seed sowing work is a collaborative effort by all staff members.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The moment all the staff members are bustling around the pickup truck is a vibrant scene that captures the essence of spring in Hokkaido!<\/p>\n

Inside the greenhouse, an automated seedling tray arranging machine is in operation. It dispenses seedling trays while dispensing seedling sheets. Staff members divide the work and set the seedling trays into the machine. The work proceeds seriously and carefully, ensuring that the trays are lined up straight and not crooked.<\/p>\n

\"Seedling<\/a>
Seedling trays are lined up efficiently.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In each task, instructions are not given; instead, each person understands the overall flow, reads the situation, and proceeds with consideration to ensure the work proceeds efficiently and smoothly.<\/p>\n

As the machine operates automatically and arranges the seedling trays, the staff move the light truck loaded with the trays at an appropriate distance in accordance with the machine's movements.<\/p>\n

Empty light trucks and light trucks loaded with boxes were transported smoothly along designated paths without any disruption to the flow of traffic.<\/p>\n

\"Smooth<\/a>
Smooth transportation by mini truck<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the silver polyethylene film peels off and the seedlings grow, it will soon be time for rice planting.<\/p>\n

\"Rice<\/a>
Rice seedlings waiting to be planted<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kiyotaka Hasegawa's thoughts on agriculture: Building relationships with people who understand each other without words, and the comfort and joy of working in nature.<\/h2>\n
\"Kiyotaka<\/a>
Kiyotaka Hasegawa talks about agriculture that values camaraderie and enjoyment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

"In the past, I used to study hard at my job, hoping to climb the ranks and become more important, but now that I'm working in agriculture, I don't think about those things at all. We all just have fun working together."<\/p>\n

Among these things, building relationships with teammates is crucial. If you have strong relationships with your teammates, you can accomplish anything with perfect teamwork.<\/p>\n

When it's time to work, we're serious and focused, but at the end of the day, we have fun and chat. President Komatsu's motto, "Have fun!", has really taken hold.<\/p>\n

Our main goal right now is to "produce delicious rice together." We absolutely must not let the safe and delicious rice of Hokuryu, a renowned rice-producing region, disappear.<\/p>\n

Agriculture allows you to work in the midst of nature, communicating with it and becoming one with it, making it a pleasant and enjoyable way to work.<\/p>\n

"Everything is new and exciting, and I still feel that way," said Ms. Hasegawa.<\/p>\n

Photo provided by Mizuho Co., Ltd.<\/h2>\n

The seedling tray arrangement was completed in one hour. After that, the misting watering was completed in about one hour and thirty minutes.<\/p>\n

\"100m<\/a>
100m greenhouse seedling tray arrangement work completed (1 hour)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Seedling<\/a>
Seedling trays lined up across the entire greenhouse.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Spraying<\/a>
Spraying with a mist of water (1 hour 30 minutes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Next time \u2013 Rice planting season begins on Friday, May 15th.<\/h2>\n

In preparation for the main rice planting season starting on Friday, May 15th, we're bringing you another update with Mizuho Co., Ltd.'s "Dense Seedling Journey 2026," Part 5.<\/p>\n

\"Cherry<\/a>
Cherry blossoms and moss phlox at Konpira Park as seen from Mizuho Farm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

YouTube videos<\/h2>\n