I’ve always had an interest in agricultural work but my desire to try it in Japan specifically was sparked by the 1991 Studio Ghibli film Only Yesterday. In the movie, the main character Taeko-san leaves the city and moves to the inaka—the Japanese countryside—where she works on a farm. Watching her and the other characters labor in the fields made me wonder what it would feel like to do that kind of work myself in Japan.
3. What did the rice field feel like when you stepped in it?
The mud was squishy and deep—and it had a surprisingly strong grip! When I took my first step, my foot sank far into the mud, and I had to put in real effort to lift my leg out and take another step. Still, I love getting my hands (and feet) dirty when doing agricultural work like this, so the mud actually felt really good. I was wearing socks, but honestly, I wish I had gone in barefoot!
4. Did you wear any special clothes or shoes to plant rice?
We were told to wear clothes and shoes we wouldn’t mind getting really dirty. They provided us with special boots or socks, but the funny thing is they couldn’t find a pair in my exact size. I wear a size 34 cm shoe (size 13 in US men’s), which isn’t easy to come by in Japan. However, luckily, one of the group organizers, Shintaro-san, was able to find me a pair of socks that fit well enough. So nice of him, right?
5. Who did you plant rice with?
