Learn about Nature,
Environment,
History, and Culture
[Special Feature]
Introduction of Hands-on Experiences
Harvest season in fall: The joy of harvesting
Enjoy the flavors of autumn!
Rice-harvesting experience at a rice terrace in a mountain village
Shimane prefecture is home to many mountainous areas, many of which featuring amazing scenery and have been listed among the "top 100 rice terraces in Japan." At "Sannoji no Tanada" in Unnan City, local residents hold seasonal events throughout the year to learn more about the gifts of nature such as the Japanese killifish and other creatures through their rural way of life, and to promote interactions among themselves through hands-on activities. Today is the day when rice-harvesting will take place. Although it is hard work, we participated in the rice-harvesting to express our gratitude for the "new rice" and to share in the joy of harvesting.
Sannoji is a mountain village in Unnan located at an altitude of 300m above sea level. The rice terraces of Sannoji have been selected as one of the"top 100 rice terraces in Japan," with the sea of clouds that emerges in late autumn conjuring a magical atmosphere in the area.
There is more to the charms of this area than its nature. At the foot of the mountain is the Nihon Hatsunomiya "Suga Shrine" where the deities Susanoo-no-mikoto and Inatahime are worshipped. This is also where the "Sannoji Kagura" which has been designated as an intangible cultural property of Shimane prefecture has been handed down to the present, and is an area where history and traditional culture continue to live on amidst the daily lives of local residents.
The autumn sky, the autumn wind, the green mountains, and the golden rice
Life in a mountain village where nature and human activities intertwine
Today is the rice-harvesting day at "Tanbo no Gakko" organized by the Sannoji Tanada Executive Committee. Many people gathered at the usually quiet mountain village, including rice terrace owners as well as families, office workers, and students who came to participate in the rice-harvesting, in addition to local residents. We entered the individual rice terraces under the clear autumn sky and used sickles to harvest the golden stalks of rice as we sweat.
"I'm really happy to see so many people from outside the region gathering here today, including the children whose voices I can hear," says Mikio Takashima, Chairman of the Executive Committee.
In order to preserve the surrounding landscape of this magnificent rice terrace, "Tanbo no Gakko" is involved in many events such as planting rice in spring, starting fires in the fields in early summer, and harvesting in autumn. However, farmers are becoming older while the population in the Sannoji area continues to decline, resulting in increasing difficulties in coping with the preparations for rice-planting and mowing the fields in summer. But on the other hand, participants of this rice-harvesting session seemed interested in coming again with their children the following year after experiencing it and learning about the value of nature and the importance of agriculture.
The connection between the community and the participants formed through rice-harvesting and food has breathed new life into Sannoji.
The rice terrace owners, participants, and local residents who took part in the rice-harvesting.