"The Secrets of Shining Women" is an interview series showcasing women who excel in a variety of fields, from work to home. The 12th installment features five female agricultural workers (Yuki Naganuma, Nahoko, Kaori Nukui, Hiroko Taka, and Kana Takahashi) who exhibited at the "Isetan Styling Marche" event, held November 1st through 3rd at the rooftop I-Garden in the main building of Isetan Shinjuku. Listening to these female agricultural workers talk about their dreams and passion for farming makes you think, "Farming is great!" But what's interesting is their daily schedule. Takahashi explains, "In the summer, I'm in the fields every day from 4:00 AM to around 7:00 PM. Do I have days off? When I do, I can't stop thinking about the fields (laughs). My goal is to open a restaurant near my fields in two years, so I can keep working hard even without days off." During cherry harvest season, Naganuma, who suffers from chronic sleep deprivation, laughs, "We start harvesting in the morning at 4am. Office work starts at night, so before you know it, it's 11pm. We repeat this cycle every day. The only days off are for ceremonial occasions, family functions, and events like this..."

The entire schedule is for the crops, not for personal reasons. During busy seasons, the work runs from early morning until late at night, and of course, there are no days off.

■ What's good for plants is also good for people: check out natural cosmetics brand "sozai LAUREL"

However, the five female farming members have such smooth, healthy skin that it's hard to believe they spend their days in the fields. I wonder if they have any special skin care regimen. Takahashi firmly states, "I don't wear sunscreen because it gets smudged with sweat." Taka and Nukui nod in agreement. However, Naoko, who leads the female staff, says, "Wearing makeup is a company rule. Actually, we make a lotion using watermelon and birch extract at work. Maybe it's because I use it that my skin is in such good condition (laughs). Because it's made by farmers, we aimed to make it safe to ingest." So, we had them try out "sozai LAUREL," a natural cosmetics line made with domestic ingredients, which was also sold at the Styling Marche. The moisturizing "sake lees lotion" was well-received, with comments like "the sweet sake lees scent and natural feel on application are great" and "it feels moisturizing." Naganuma then picked up the thick "gagome kelp serum," saying, "kelp amino acids are also used as fertilizer for agricultural products. What's good for people is good for plants." In addition to skincare after work, this farm girl also pays extra attention to hand care, as she's constantly plagued by rough hands. The exchange of beauty tips, from skincare items to hand creams and balms that are safe to ingest, was a lively one.

■Functionality comes first, but each has their own unique work style

These fashionable female farm workers are all fashionable, but what is their everyday work style? "I wear a bandana on my head, long sleeves, jeans, and boots. Sometimes I wear a jumpsuit," says Nahoko, who is fashionable even in casual everyday wear. "I wear a hat, long sleeves, and an apron because it's convenient when harvesting vegetables. But when I'm not working, I always go out in a skirt. I don't wear it often (laughs)," says Taka, who enjoys a feminine style in her private life. While they prioritize functionality when it comes to work clothes, each has their own unique style. They wear hats or bandanas and hand towels, long-sleeved or short-sleeved shirts with arm covers, jeans or jumpsuits with a tracksuit, etc. They then looked at hats, gloves, and aprons from the work brand "NAPRON," which was also on sale at the Marche, as well as slip-ons from "The OPANAK," a brand that started out as waterproof shoes for Serbian farmers. They exchanged a variety of opinions, each tailored to their own situation, such as, "Wide-brimmed hats are nice, but they fly away in the wind, so they need laces," "Long, elbow-length work gloves are hard to find, so these are great," and "Rubber boots are a must in the fields, but these slip-ons are great for shipping and other tasks." ■Connecting People, Expanding Ideas, and Making Agriculture More Appealing: Focusing on the Agricultural Women's Project
What did the women gain from participating in the Agricultural Women's Project? Nukui, who has been involved in the project since its preparation, said, "I think it was getting to meet agricultural women from all over the country, and seeing so many things take shape, including the Styling Marche. I want to continue working hard to ensure that our activities take root." The women nodded in agreement. Naganuma also commented, "Meeting different people sparks new ideas. Participating in the project has been very stimulating, for example, it has made me want to propose new ways to eat pears." Nahoko added, "I hope the Agricultural Girls Project will expand both vertically and horizontally, transcending generations and regions. I hope to see more women entering agriculture." Connecting people (with producers and with consumers), spreading new ideas and possibilities, and making agriculture even more appealing. One year after starting with 100 members, the Agricultural Girls Project has already grown to over 200 participants, so we'll be keeping a close eye on its future. [Agricultural Girls Member Profiles] ■ Nahoko Representative of the all-female Yamagata Girls Farm in Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture. She produces five types of rice, as well as processed products such as ripe fruit juice and baked goods. During her teaching internship at university, she realized, "If I want to help children grow up healthy, I should start in the fields, not in the classroom!" This was what inspired her to start farming.

■ Naganuma Yuki
Runs "Naganuma Fruits of the Seasons" with her family in Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture. Produces pear, cherry, and fruit juice. After working in accounting, she trained for six months at a fruit farm before taking over her family's farm.

■ Nukui Kaori
Runs "Nukui Orchard," a family farm in Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture. Cultivates log-grown shiitake mushrooms and green tea. After working for a recruitment consulting company and a PR company, she joined Nukui Orchard, run by her father.

■ Taka Hiroko
Runs "NOTO Taka Farm" with her husband in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Cultivates over 300 varieties of vegetables (traditional, Western, and organic) and herbs. Inspired by the phrase "the era of agriculture is coming," she decided to start farming on Noto Island with her husband in 2000.

■ Takahashi Kana
She runs Minori Farm with her husband in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture. They grow a variety of vegetables. She vowed to make farming her life's work, and persuaded her husband, who was a salaryman, to open a farm in Shiga Prefecture, her hometown.