Naturally grown radish (Yamazaki)

Naturally grown radish

Gensuke radish is in its eighth year since Yamazaki collected the seeds.

Gensuke radish is a variety native to the Kaga region of Ishikawa Prefecture. It is a shorter variety than the common green neck radish, and has a characteristic soft texture when cooked, making it the perfect radish for hot pot dishes in the coming cold season.

Practicing symbiotic agriculture and living in harmony with the environment

Yamazaki runs a farm in Tsunagi Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, a town with a strong understanding of organic farming and natural cultivation.

Children's reactions
"I started growing vegetables at home, but I wanted as many people as possible to enjoy them, so I started selling them at nearby roadside stations. When I gave some carrots to nursery school children to eat, I was so moved by the sight of them gobbling them down that I felt I had to keep doing my best for the sake of these children too."

It was around this time that the town of Tsunagi began promoting natural farming as an administrative unit, and it was there that the town first became aware of natural farming and decided to switch to it.

The feeling of being in between

"Tsunaki Town has mountains and sea. We are allowed to farm in the middle of the two.
Rain falls, and after decades of filtering, the water turns into rivers and flows into the ocean. On the way, various substances dissolve in the water and flow into the ocean. Depending on the type of agriculture we choose, we can make our fields clean and our oceans clean and rich.

Yamazaki says he would like it to be called symbiotic agriculture.

They invite children to the fields to play and experience harvesting together, and they also ship carrots to local nursery schools, so they are serious about farming and cherish their connections with the community.