On a sunny autumn day in September after a scorching hot summer, we visited a rice field in Ureshino City, Saga. The rice field had turned a golden brown. It was ready to harvest.
猛暑が過ぎた9月の秋晴れの日に、Eチャンが訪れたのは、とある嬉野市の田んぼ。稲穂は黄金色に実り収穫の時を迎えています。
We came here because we heard that a rice harvesting event for American people from the US military base would be held. Surprisingly, about 80 Americans participated in this event! It’s a fantastic event because taking part in rice harvesting is a rare opportunity even for the local Japanese people.
その日、この農場に稲刈りに訪れたのは、なんと約80名の米軍基地の皆さん！稲刈り体験なんて日本人にとっても貴重な体験なのに、正直、うらやましい！
Meet the Organizers|主催者はこの人
The event organizers are Miki-san, a representative of ILS Sasebo (language school), and Tanaka-san, the owner of the farm. Around fifteen years ago, they started inviting their foreign colleagues and friends to a rice harvesting. Their event spread by word of mouth, and soon after, people from the US military base began participating as well. The program has now grown quite large. More than 100 people joined before the Covid-19 crisis.
そんなステキなイベントを主催するのは、語学学校ILSさせぼの代表Mikiさんと農場のオーナーTanakaさん。15年前、知り合いの外国人を招いて米作りを体験を始めたところ、口コミで広がり、10年前から米軍基地の方も参加するように。コロナ前には100人以上が集まるほどに成長していました。
Labor Time|いざ収穫
The rice farming experience consists of planting rice in early summer and harvesting it in the fall. For participants, this was fun opportunity to harvest the rice that they had planted themselves. Now it was time to get busy. Everyone started harvesting by hand with a sickle.
米作り体験は、初夏の田植えと秋の稲刈りがセットになっています。多くの参加者にとっては、自分で植えたお米を収穫をする機会でした。皆さん一斉に作業を開始！鎌を使って手作業で稲刈りをしていきます。
Some participants wore their own bamboo woven hats. It seemed that they really are up all the Japanese culture and had a wonderful time.
日よけの竹笠を持参してる人もちらほら！気合が入っています。
Most participants were families. There were many children from preschoolers to teenagers.
家族連れが多く、子どもたちも大勢、参加していました。
The navy participants work hard anywhere and anytime. It took only 1 hour to clear the field which produced 200kg of rice.
それにしても現役ネイビーは仕事が早い！ １時間ほどで米200キロ分の稲が、あっという間に刈られました。
Freshly Steamed Rice | 炊きたての白飯
After the labor, rice produced from Tanaka-san’s other farm was cooked in a traditional pot and served. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the taste of the newly harvested rice. The new rice sold out in no time.
農作業のあとは、釜で炊いた白米が振る舞われました。皆さん新米の美味しさに感動した様子。 販売された新米は、あっという間に売り切れていました。
Participant’s comments | 参加者の声
Elizabeth, who is from Chicago, enjoys living in Sasebo which is surrounded by nature. Since she was born and raised in the big city, farm work itself was a valuable experience for her. She was impressed by the well-organised structure of the rice field. Indeed, the rice is planted in the neat rows so that it can be harvested more easily.
シカゴ出身のエリザベスさんは、自然あふれる佐世保での生活を楽しんでいるとのことでした。都会っ子なので、農作業自体が貴重な体験だった様子。稲がきれいに一列に植えられ、収穫した稲もきれいに並べられていく様子に感動したとのことでした。
Eric and Hayley also enjoyed farming the rice fields which is something they couldn’t do in their home town in Virginia. Hayley enjoyed hand-harvesting the rice and their children were delighted by the frogs in the field. Eric also enjoyed the experience but said “eating rice was the best part. It was the best rice I have ever eaten.”
エリックとヘイリー夫妻も故郷のバージニア州ではできない水田の農作業を楽しんだようです。ヘイリーさんは稲を刈る作業がお気に入り。子供たちは田んぼのカエルに喜んでいたそうです。エリックさんは、｢釜炊きのご飯が最高！今まで食べた米で一番おいしかった｣とのことでした。
Students from Ureshino Junior High School participated as volunteers. It was a great experience for them to communicate with Americans in English!
この日、ボランティアとして参加していたのは、嬉野中学校の生徒たち！アメリカ人の皆さんと英語で交流できて、とてもいい経験になったようです。
This article introduced an example of an international exchange born out of human connections. We were impressed by all of the smiles on everyone’s faces as they took part in the harvest amongst the beautiful Japanese nature.
今回は、人とのつながりが生んだ国際交流イベントの例を紹介しました。日本の自然とふれあい、収穫を楽しむ皆さんの笑顔に、ほっこりしたEチャンでした。
