A report on Owani Onsen Moyashi [bean sprouts, Japan]

At a time when safe and healthy vegetables have attracted much attention and consumers pursue tasty food. Owani Moyashi has many advantages that can attract consumers. Our bean sprouts are a highly nutritious vegetable with unique flavor and texture, grown without agrichemicals. Unfortunately, only 6 farmers are engaged in the production of Owani Moyashi at present, and yield has been decreasing. This is not only because of the hard labor involved, which is compounded by issues in distribution, but also because of the aging of farmers, and problems with the right to use the hot spring even before the planting starts. As a result, the production of Owani Moyashi has been limited to one generation to another. To solve these problems a project to promote Owani Moyashi has been started by the town of Owani. The goal is to add to the number of bean sprout growers and improve the process of production. There is no doubt that the recent project could have various effects on Owani Moyashi production, in both positive or negative ways, so it will be necessary to show the immediate benefits of moyashi production, such as the promotion of agriculture, the provision of work opportunities and income, in order to maintain a good relationship with present farmers. Reducing labor load by having people working in shift and by utilizing those who have retired should also solve the problem of excessive labor. It is necessary, too, to hand down cultivation techniques to the next generations in order to cultivate successors and maintain the traditional know-how. In the future society will attach more importance to multilateral functions in agriculture and Owani Moyashi will earn a high praise for the promotion of tourism and the utilization of natural resources. Thus we must reconsider the multiple functions of agriculture and know the importance of our task find labor value in our work and give rightful evaluation to it. Local people, too, should be encouraged to know and eat special local foods including Owani Moyashi, so that can be proud of local products and develop the urge to cultivate them themselves. Their interests in our activity will foster love for our home district, leading to the revitalization of the region and strengthening the unity of the local community. We are expected to hand on local foods, food culture and tradition to the next generation. And consequently, it is important to link such tradition with the promotion of special food products and tourism.