Third-Generation Rice Farmer

The full story of Mr. Sato, the man in the fields at five. In his own words.

"In my grandfather's day, they plowed with horses. In my father's it became machines, and in mine we got GPS. But what we do is the same. Look at the water, look at the sky, look at the rice's complexion. Only the tools changed."

— When did you decide to take over?

"I didn't decide. Honestly, I found I'd taken over. I worked in Sapporo once. Came back after three years. I can't explain the reason well. If anything, the smell of that mist on September mornings. Things like that, you don't understand until you leave."

"I still get nervous eating the first new rice. They say rice takes eighty-eight steps, but the job lasts until the last bite. If it's good, that's thanks to the water and soil. If it's not quite there, that's on me. That's the kind of trade it is."

"The ensembles folks come to help, right? At first, honestly, I thought they'd get in the way (laughs). But the face of someone holding a sickle for the first time is good. They've got a face we've forgotten. I'll admit I take them in partly to see that."