167
the quality of their rice was uneven, they said a completely level rice paddy will
produce the most consistent crop, and so we leveled their land using intelligent
Machine Control Bulldozer. They were told that in a level field they didn’t have to
plant rice seedlings, they could just sow the seeds directly. They gave that a try, and
their rice crop last year was quite delicious. Now we are spreading the direct sowing
method to more farms.
Komiyama Doesn’t that mean lower productivity?
Sakane It’s actually up by 20%. It’s not the traditional furrowed rice paddy, so
even young people with no experience can do the work. This is coming into use all
over Japan.
My point is that the circle of local energy is gradually expanding. With renewed
confidence in our competitiveness, our return to the Ishikawa area we once had fled
was a springboard. We brought energy efficiency and biomass fuel into the factory.
And once we started the assistance for farming and forestry operations, the agricultural cooperative and the local government and the banks stepped up with financing
aimed at increasing productivity.
The training institute also deserves to be used by more than just our own people.
We thought of setting up science classrooms for young children, and as a centerpiece we brought one of our mining trucks back from Chile, the world’s largest
dump truck with tires four meters in diameter and a price tag of half a billion yen,
and we placed it at the training institute. Now we have about 50,000 adults and
children visiting each year. We run classrooms on science and monozukuri, with
themes like what makes electricity occur, or what are the principles behind the
transport of heavy objects. The people teaching this material are our retired
employees.
Komiyama Fascinating.
Sakane Each year about 300 people take shifts teaching the children.
Komiyama Are they paid for their work?
Sakane We pay a little by the day, and it’s gradually going up. And what the teachers tell us is they find they need less medical care.
Komiyama What a great story. How about linking up with the local schools?
Sakane We’re already working with the primary schools in the city of Komatsu.
Every fifth-year student comes on a field trip to the training institute.
Interview
the quality of their rice was uneven, they said a completely level rice paddy will
produce the most consistent crop, and so we leveled their land using intelligent
Machine Control Bulldozer. They were told that in a level field they didn’t have to
plant rice seedlings, they could just sow the seeds directly. They gave that a try, and
their rice crop last year was quite delicious. Now we are spreading the direct sowing
method to more farms.
Komiyama Doesn’t that mean lower productivity?
Sakane It’s actually up by 20%. It’s not the traditional furrowed rice paddy, so
even young people with no experience can do the work. This is coming into use all
over Japan.
My point is that the circle of local energy is gradually expanding. With renewed
confidence in our competitiveness, our return to the Ishikawa area we once had fled
was a springboard. We brought energy efficiency and biomass fuel into the factory.
And once we started the assistance for farming and forestry operations, the agricultural cooperative and the local government and the banks stepped up with financing
aimed at increasing productivity.
The training institute also deserves to be used by more than just our own people.
We thought of setting up science classrooms for young children, and as a centerpiece we brought one of our mining trucks back from Chile, the world’s largest
dump truck with tires four meters in diameter and a price tag of half a billion yen,
and we placed it at the training institute. Now we have about 50,000 adults and
children visiting each year. We run classrooms on science and monozukuri, with
themes like what makes electricity occur, or what are the principles behind the
transport of heavy objects. The people teaching this material are our retired
employees.
Komiyama Fascinating.
Sakane Each year about 300 people take shifts teaching the children.
Komiyama Are they paid for their work?
Sakane We pay a little by the day, and it’s gradually going up. And what the teachers tell us is they find they need less medical care.
Komiyama What a great story. How about linking up with the local schools?
Sakane We’re already working with the primary schools in the city of Komatsu.
Every fifth-year student comes on a field trip to the training institute.
Interview