Masatake Fukumoto (Fukumoto Farm)

Producer: Masatake Fukumoto Production area: Minamisatsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture Main products: Turnip, radish, taro, spinach Use of pesticides: None Use of fertilizers: None

Until I became a farmer

He became involved in agriculture when he went on to a local agricultural high school and studied environmental conservation-oriented agriculture.
After graduating, he studied basic agricultural techniques for two years at an agricultural vocational school in Shiga Prefecture, then got a job at an organic farming corporation in his hometown of Kagoshima, where he was in charge of the farm department for about three years, during which he actually grew crops and acquired the know-how of organic farming.
From that time on, Fukumoto had been thinking about eventually becoming independent and starting a new farm, so after volunteering for a year at the Natural Farming Experience School run by Minamisatsuma City as a city project, he went independent and has been working there ever since.

What we have now is

"I am who I am today because of the town of Minamisatsuma. I never forget that I am able to farm thanks to the support of those around me, and I want to continue producing vegetables that bring a smile to people's faces so that more people can learn about environmentally friendly agriculture," says Fukumoto.
As a young employee, Fukumoto says that many people regularly speak to him, but what was impressive was how humble he always remains, saying, "I learn a lot from the guidance I receive."