Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Hokuryu Town has been accepting agricultural trainees since Monday, July 20th. The trainee this time is Hiroko Kono (38 years old).
The host farm will start with Watanabe Farm (melon cultivation, Yasunori Watanabe), and over the next two months until mid-September, the participants will have agricultural experience at six farms (melon, watermelon, flowers, tomatoes, etc.). We spoke to Hiroko Kono about this.
Trainee Hiroko Kono
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Hiroko Kono is 38 years old and was born in 1982 (Showa 57). She is originally from Batou Town, Nasu County, Tochigi Prefecture (now merged with Ogawa Town to become Nakagawa Town).
He spent his time in Tochigi Prefecture until high school and then studied at a university in Tokyo. After graduating from university, he returned to Tochigi Prefecture and worked in sales and administration at ALSOK Kita Kanto Sogo Security Services Co., Ltd. for five years.
She has tried her hand at work in a variety of fields that interest her, including sales at a specialty store that makes handmade cereals, and as an on-site operations assistant at a company that provides corporate training.
She discovered aromatherapy about eight years ago, studied it as a hobby for four to five years, and started her own business as a therapist three years ago. She currently runs her own aromatherapy therapy salon.
Encounter with Hokuryu Town
"I was interested in agriculture, so I searched online and came across Hokuryu Town, which offers agricultural experience training.
I chose Hokuryu Town because the environment for accepting people there was excellent. I applied for agricultural training and they accepted me right away. I personally value the present moment, so I made a decision and acted quickly.
I have traveled to various parts of Hokkaido (Sapporo, Wakkanai, Hakodate, Furano, Kushiro, etc.) and I feel that Hokuryu Town has a natural environment that is very similar to that of my hometown, Tochigi.
I love nature, so this agricultural training has really made me want to immerse myself in nature and experience farming," says Kono Hiroko.
Hokuryu Town is an amazing town!
Hokuryu is an amazing town! The people are great, the nature is wonderful, and just being here is soothing.
In the future, I would like to be able to grow my favorite tomatoes and cucumbers.
"By the time I finish my internship, I plan to paint a picture of my life. I want to take my time alone to reflect on myself and enjoy the time I have," said Kono with a lovely smile.
Farm work scene
I practiced melon shipping with my senior colleague Kaneda (at Watanabe Farm).
Sunflower melon producer, Yasunori Watanabe
Cherish this wonderful relationship!
"I hope that through this agricultural training, the students will gain a sense of something they have never experienced before. It was a certain fate that they were able to form a connection with Hokuryu Town in the vast land of Hokkaido, and I would be grateful if this connection could turn into something wonderful.
I hope that through their agricultural experience in Hokuryu, they will be able to fully experience both the good and bad points of the town, and tell the people around them, "This is what Hokuryu was like!"
"Women who visit farms hoping to experience farming have a strong will, so I want to do my best to meet that aspiration, even if just a little," Watanabe added with these encouraging words.
Senior: Erika Kaneda
"I hope that she will thoroughly enjoy her agricultural experience in Hokuryu Town. I don't know how Hiroko's life will unfold, but I hope that it will be a life in which she can always enjoy each moment.
Above all, I would be happy if you would come to love Hokuryu Town."
Hokuryu Town is a town blessed with abundant sunlight, fertile soil, pure water, and a refreshing breeze.
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, we offer our heartfelt thanks to the Hokuryu Town Agricultural Experience Program, which will be held in the midst of abundant nature and surrounded by the sincere, gentle, and cordial hearts of the farmers.
The ripe melon of hospitality, "Hokuryu Sunflower Melon"
Related articles
・First shipment of sunflower melons by Erika Kaneda, a new farmer in her first year(August 2, 2019)
・Agricultural next generation human resource investment project: New farmer Erisa Kaneda starts her first year of melon farming @ Yasunori Watanabe Farm(May 14, 2019)
・Hokuryu Town's "Agricultural Experience Training" and Agricultural Experience Accommodation "Uerukaru"(May 7, 2019)
・Hokuryu Melon Producers Association Introduction Page
◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi
