VISION

“The rice fields of the “KOME-DOKORO” Niigata region are in a critical situation. What roles do universities play to tackle this situation? What should scientists do? What does “university rooted in the region” mean? Many university researchers in Japan are now asking themselves these questions.

The philosophy of the Nagaoka University of Technology is to “scientifically investigate technology.” After all, we are not just Nagaoka University of “Science and Technology”.

The roles of this Centre in the “KOME-DOKORO” Niigata region are to learn the “master craftsmanship (skills) of farmers” using the “power of science” to add value to them, and to impart this knowledge and successfully pass on the rice fields to the next generation. We aim to make agriculture profitable and attractive to young people. We are convinced that this project, which uses rice fields as a research field and is centred around nature with the focus on the latest science, will be an attractive area for university researchers.

We will co-create future rice fields with farmers and other industries to foster a bio-community, while fully circulating regional bio-resources. We intend to make this project one that allows citizens to start seeing rice fields as their own rather than belonging to someone else.

We want the world to fully understand Japan’s “KOME” culture. We will make “KOME-DOKORO COI-NEXT” open to all. Thank you for your continued support.

The University has promoted advanced research and technological development and has worked to reinvigorate local industries through social implementation of technological advancements.
This project will contribute to the revitalization of the “KOME-DOKORO” Niigata region by bringing together technologies from various fields at the University to address serious regional issues related to agriculture, such as falling rice prices, soaring fertilizer prices, and the lack of successors to the farming industry. We will continue our efforts to realize a recycling-oriented society while engaging in dialogue with the local community.

Nagaoka is a “KOME-DOKORO” city, with 25% of its area covered by farmland, and boasts the second largest rice production in Japan as well as a thriving sake and rice confectionery and other rice-related industries. However, the city’s population is seriously declining and the city is working on various measures to overcome this issue, with the goal of “creating a town where young people can confidently settle down.”

In 2021, we were recognised as one of the four bio-community centres in Japan by the Cabinet Office and will continue to work diligently toward the realisation of the goal of building a self-reliant bio-community in close collaboration with Nagaoka University of Technology.