I visited a farmer to interview them about the “Echigo Teishoku” (Echigo Set Meal).

From July to September, for three months only, ”Koso Department Store” in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, will be offering a special "Echigo Set Meal." The star of this meal, the rice, is a collaborative effort between three partner farms in Nagaoka City and the Nagaoka University of Technology COI-NEXT base.

On May 19th and 20th, Hiraku Ogura and others from "Fermentation Department" visited cooperative farmers in Nagaoka City. This interview was to feature the thoughts of three cooperative farmers on rice cultivation in a booklet introducing the "Echigo Set Meal" offered at "Fermentation Department."

"Fermentation Department Store" is a specialty store for fermented foods, offering over 500 varieties of unique seasonings, processed foods, amazake, and alcoholic beverages gathered from various regions. The "Echigo Teishoku" is served in the attached restaurant space.
（Fermentation Department Official Website）

On the 19th, we visited Nakamura Farm. We had the opportunity to speak with President Nakamura, and I was impressed by his dedication to stable production, efficiency, and labor saving through the introduction of many cutting-edge technologies. He also emphasized his desire to nurture successors and pass on the rice paddies to the next generation.

The 20th was spent with Hyakusho-kai and Osabe Farm. I was impressed by Hyakusho-kai President Ikeda's dedication to creating a system where the producers, consumers, and local community can all smile, and his words about wanting to support local agriculture by eliminating as much of the "3Ks" (tough, dirty, and dangerous) as possible while ensuring thorough safety management.

Choobu Farm's representative, Choobu, spoke about the importance and difficulty of doing what is obvious, obviously. He said that the bigger the scale, the more difficult it becomes in rice paddies, and he gave us the homework of wanting science to come up with solutions. I was deeply moved by his words that passing on the rice paddies to the next generation is his mission, and he wants to convey the meaning of life by protecting agriculture.

Everyone, please try the "Echigo Set Meal" at the "Fermentation Department Store" in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo!