Category Archives: Photos

【News】Ohaganishi-no-Tanada rice terrace dyed to colors of sunset (in Misaki Town, Okayama Prefecture) (Jun 11, 2017)

Ohaganishi-no-Tanada in Misaki Town, Okayama Prefecture, is one of the four rice terraces in Okayama Prefecture that were selected for inclusion in the top 100 most beautiful tanada (rice terraces) in Japan. The terraced rice field is now offering a wonderful view with water filled up to prepare for a new crop and reflections of the sun on the water that constantly change as time passes. Ohaganishi-no-Tanada is the mortar-shaped rice field in the mountain area with approximately 850 pieces in 85 meters. The edges of the rice terraces are as beautiful as contour lines, and when the sun is setting, the water shines, reflecting colors of the sunset. A … Continue reading

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【News】MASUMOSS bonsai-style moss ball drawing worldwide attention (Jun 7, 2017)

A bonsai-style moss ball arranged in masu, a traditional wood container for drinking sake,  is now becoming one of the popular interior items both in Japan and overseas. MASUMOSS, it’s called and is produced by Green’s Green, a company that transformed a land which was once abandoned in Niigata town, Niigata Prefecture, to a moss production field. A small plant such as Goyomatsu Japanese white pine tree and Korin Satsuki azalea is planted in a moss ball, which is made of moss planted on non-woven fabric, and placed in masu, which is made of wood grown in Gifu Prefecture. It debuted in 2015 at an interior design trade show in … Continue reading

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【News】Our Noh no Ikebana:“I want to express how the life spring from the soil,” says Harue Morita from Hachioji, Tokyo (Jun 2, 2017)

“I decorate the entrance with a Noh no Ikebana arrangement to welcome my guests. Until 1999, my family used to run a dairy farm, so I often use milkers as my containers. My favorite materials are burdocks, carrots, Chinese cabbages and other vegetables that I grow for my family. I’ve been doing Noh no Ikebana for about 20 years. Whenever I find vegetables in unique shapes, I get excited and start thinking how I can use them in my arrangements. My husband also gives me an idea when he finds vegetables in funny shapes. That way, I want to respect individual characters of each piece of the vegetables. For this … Continue reading

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【News】Explore globally important agricultural heritage on roofless train (in Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture) (May 21, 2017)

In Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture, a touristic train runs along the tracks of the former Takachiho Railway, which stopped operating in 2008. It’s becoming popular as a train to enjoy the great views of Takachihogo-Shiibayama area, which is one of the World’s Agricultural Heritages in Japan. The cart will make a round trip between Takachiho Station and the stop beyond the 105-meter high Takachiho Iron Bridge. The cart is named “Grand Super Cart” and has one roofless carriage for 30 passengers and two diesel-powered traction trains on the both ends. The 5.1-kilometer round trip will take approximately 30 minutes. The train left the station, slowly passed through the fields and forests … Continue reading

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【News】Come and see faces of pioneering tractors in Hokkaido at Tsuchi-no-Yakata museum in Kamifurano town, Hokkaido(May 14, 2017)

A tractor is a useful vehicle when you are to plow or carry something heavy in the fields. However, for many farmers, it’s also something special that they enjoy its appearance and feel personal attachment to. Tsuchi-no-Yakata is a museum in Kamifurano town, Hokkaido, where you can meet those old-time tractors and learn the history of farming tools. Seventy two units of old tractors in different colors and distinctive designs sit in neat rows. The oldest one in the collection is a steam-powered traction engine built in 1902, and the latest one is a Russian-made tractor built in 1980. Most of them on display were actually used and donated by … Continue reading

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