The Person Who Lays Out the Vegetables First Thing

Roadside station Michikusakan. Before opening, the day's fields of the town gather on its shelves.

"Our shelves are right at 6 a.m. The growers bring things themselves, arrange them themselves, set the prices themselves. So the first shelves of the morning even show the person's character. Neat people, bold people — you can tell from how they tie the bags."

"I tell tourists to come in the morning rather than the afternoon. Not because there's the most variety. Because you can meet the person arranging it. Ask 'how do you eat this?' and your dinner menu is decided right there."

"After doing this a long time, I can tell how the season is moving just by looking at the shelves. Fewer tomatoes, more squash, and before long the new rice comes. More accurate than a calendar."