"The Secrets of Shining Women" is an interview series showcasing women who excel in a variety of fields, including work and home. The 12th installment features five women from the "Agricultural Women Project," promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The Agricultural Women Project was launched in 2013 with the aim of connecting various companies with the knowledge and wisdom cultivated by female farmers through their daily lives, work, and interactions with nature, and disseminating new products, services, and information to society at large. Starting this year, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings also joined the project, and for three days from November 1st to 3rd, the "Isetan Styling Marche" was held on the rooftop of the main building of the Isetan Shinjuku store, selling produce and other items cultivated by agricultural women.
The five agricultural women featured in this issue came from all over Japan, who helped create excitement for the event. From Yamagata Prefecture, we have Yuki Naganuma of Naganuma Orchard, a fruit farm that grows pears, cherries, and other fruits, and Nahoko, the representative of Yamagata Girls Farm, an all-female agricultural company. Kaori Nukui of Nukui-en, which cultivates tea and shiitake mushrooms in Saitama Prefecture. From Ishikawa Prefecture, we have Hiroko Taka of NOTO Taka Farm, which grows 300 types of vegetables and herbs. We also have Kana Takahashi of Minori Farm, which grows wild yam and Western vegetables in Shiga Prefecture on the shores of Lake Biwa. Although they are all called agricultural women, the crops they cultivate, the scale and type of business they operate are completely different. We asked these women what led them to start farming, what makes the job appealing, and their thoughts on the Agricultural Women Project.


■ There are many reasons for starting farming: family business, a company's new venture, a comment from a boyfriend, etc.

We hear that an increasing number of young men are taking up farming due not only to the prolonged economic downturn but also to a strong interest in manufacturing, but what was it that prompted the members of Nougyou Joshi to take up farming?

Nukui and Naganuma say they had worked in other jobs but decided to take over the family farm, which had been passed down through generations. Meanwhile, Nahoko, who was aiming to become a teacher, felt strongly about the importance of food for her children, so she returned to her hometown and started her own agricultural company while helping out with the family farm. As daughters of farmers, Nukui, Naganuma, and Nahoko all say the same thing: "Our parents never asked us to take over the farm," and they jumped into farming as a personal challenge, even though it was a family business.

Though she had no prior connection to agriculture, "the company I was working for put me in charge of a new agricultural business. That's when I got hooked. I asked my boyfriend (now my husband) to quit his job and we went independent as farmers together," laughs Takahashi. Takahashi, who jumped into farming after a word from her husband, says, "My boyfriend (now my husband) said he wanted to start farming, and I thought that might be a good idea (laughs). Then, with a bit of luck, we decided to start in our current location, where we fell in love with the scenery at first sight." The couple moved from Fukuoka to their hometown. While each member had their own reasons for starting a farm, they all shared the same goal of choosing agriculture as a new challenge.

■The connections they made with people through agricultural products are their source of energy

What do they think about the appeal of farming and why they continue? Fruit farmer Naganuma says, "I think it's the connection with our customers through our produce. When the hail damage had a major impact, many customers sent rice and other items from all over the country, asking, 'Are you okay?'... The presence of our customers who support us regardless of the situation gives us the strength to continue."

Takahashi, who is in his second year of independence, says, "It's fascinating to watch crops grow. Tomatoes can have completely different flavors depending on the soil, fertilizer, and other conditions. And we have a lot of freedom, from the variety we grow to where we ship them." Taka adds, "We mainly do business with restaurants and department stores. Chefs of my generation have even asked me to continue growing vegetables for another 10 years, and it's fun to deepen relationships of trust with people through vegetables."

Although their work involves working in the fields every day, the appeal of agriculture is the many encounters they can have through their produce, and all the members agree that this is what makes it rewarding. When asked what they're currently focusing on, Nukui replied, "We want to not only produce, but also deliver. Conveying the appeal of agriculture and Nukui-en's commitment through events like this is one way of doing that." Naoko, who also sold a variety of processed products this time, said, "We want to brand our processed products. We also want people of all ages to think about the importance of food, so we're focusing on offering farming experiences about seven times a year." Producing delicious, safe, and reliable produce is a given. On top of that, the agricultural girls are putting their efforts into delivering what they produce and making the passion of the producers and farming more accessible to people in their own locations. In the second half of the event, we'll hear about the agricultural girl lifestyle from the perspectives of fashion and beauty, as they actively work every day under the bright sunshine.