SPIRIT OF JAPAN

Hiroshima-Grown Bok Choy of Happiness!

VOD for this program is no longer available.

Aired: April 02, 2020 (UTC)


Information

This episode’s theme is: “Why do people work with passion?” A story of passionate and proud farmers.

Full-time farmer Koji Okada (Age 50) hopes to make Hiroshima’s Akitakada renowned as a Bok Choy producing region.

Bok Choy is not yet well-known in Hiroshima, so who are the people growing it? While the subject matter doesn’t seem particularly exciting, Okada’s wild, friendly (slightly scary) demeanor of taking on challenges head-on shines strongly when it comes to his Bok Choy! He not only leads the local farmers’ co-op, but even creates original recipes to share through social media.

If that weren’t enough, he also encourages new members of JA (National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations), saying “In the beginning, it’s only natural not to have passion for your work.” He says passion comes from hands-on work, sweating in the greenhouse, and studying what works and doesn’t. He tells them that his work is now his passion, and is what makes him happy. Watch as Okada preaches his philosophy to the next generation of farmers alongside his wife and partner in farming.

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