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"I want to give back to my family and my hometown that raised me."

Neo Miura, 4th year student, School of Social Sciences

In a rice field in my hometown of Ehime Prefecture.

Having completed almost all the credits required for graduation during his three years at university, Miura Oto has switched to on-demand classes for the remaining courses and is now involved in rice farming in his hometown of Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture. Currently, with love for his family and hometown in his heart, he grows delicious rice with his two older brothers and is busy spreading awareness of her activities and the importance of agriculture to the world through social media. Miura says that he didn't envision his current life when he entered university, but a certain event prompted his to return to her hometown and engage in agriculture. With a sincere desire to be of service to the hometown and family that raised his, Miura is active in Ehime Prefecture while still a student. We spoke to his about the circumstances that led to his current life and activities, and the passionate feelings behind them.

—Why did you start activities related to your local area?

When I was in junior high school, my older brothers, who had graduated from university, started farming in our hometown from scratch, without any farmland, machinery, or warehouses. I helped them out during my junior and senior high school years. This experience fueled my desire to contribute to Ehime in some way and to "spread Ehime's products to the world." However, at first, I longed to be a company employee or entrepreneur working in the city or overseas, and thought, "I want to live a different life than my brothers, and I definitely don't want to do agriculture." I wanted to start a business through a different approach. After entering university, I did a long-term internship at IKEUCHI ORGANIC, which makes Imabari towels, a specialty product of Ehime. There, I worked as a shop assistant and organized Imabari towel events.

Also, when I studied abroad in Germany for a year starting in the fall of my second year, I worked hard to open a rice ball shop in Germany using rice grown by my brothers in Ehime, with the help of the Düsseldorf Tomonkai. In addition, while studying abroad, I also gave short lectures about Ehime to local students, trying to contribute to my hometown through approaches other than primary industries. I tackled many things head-on, but as I was doing all of this, I always had a vague anxiety and worry about the future in the back of my mind, wondering if I should get a job in Tokyo, gain business experience, build various connections, and then return to Ehime to start a business, so I often consulted my mother about it.

Photo on the left: An intern at IKEUCHI ORGANIC explaining bath towels to a customer.
Photo on the right: Photo taken while studying abroad

—What prompted you to decide to work in agriculture in your hometown?

A turning point came when my mother passed away while I was studying abroad. Her death made me realize from the bottom of my heart that family is not something to be taken for granted, but something irreplaceable. At the time, I was unable to take a step forward towards my future, but this experience pushed me to decide to return to Ehime immediately after graduation. I also realized that in order to love and give back to my hometown, I must first love and give back to my family, and I came to understand the importance of helping my brothers with their farming as a family member, which has led me to where I am today.

With my beloved mother at Entrance Ceremony

—Please tell me more about your current life.

I'm currently based in Ehime Prefecture, living with my brother and his family at his house, which is about a 20-30 minute drive from my parents' home. There are rice paddies near my brother's house, so I wake up at 6 a.m. and spend the day mainly working on farming. The rice paddies are located in a mountainous area and consist of many small plots, which means it takes a lot of effort, but I manage and work on each one carefully. After finishing work around 4 p.m., I do some light exercise like running, then start on my university assignments, and once I've finished those, I work on video editing and other social media activities. That's my daily routine.

A scene of rice planting. Miura can be seen smiling naturally.

On social media, I use the account name "Okuma Yoneshin" to share videos of my farm work and information about the state of agriculture in Japan. I regularly film and edit videos and post vlogs, and my goal is to reach a total of 50,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube by the end of the year. I am also focusing on expanding my network to help revitalize Ehime by connecting with people doing similar activities and people from Ehime Prefecture.

 

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大隈米信【愛媛の米農家】(@okumakomenobu)がシェアした投稿

A video reel explaining the proportion of young farmers in Japan's agricultural population.

—Why do you have such a strong attachment to your hometown of Ehime and your family?

It's difficult to put my love for my hometown into words, but it's simply because Ehime is the place that raised me. These feelings aren't based on logic but on feeling, and I think I naturally grew to love it while spending time in Ehime. My love for my hometown was formed by the beautiful nature of Ehime and my gratitude for the kindness I received from the people I've interacted with.

Furthermore, I believe my love for my family stems from my gratitude to my parents who worked tirelessly to raise me, and from the time I spent with my family since childhood. The Miura family has a strong belief in "doing everything as a family," so a family meeting was always held whenever we had to make a decision. Growing up in such an environment is also one of the reasons.

I strongly feel that the foundation of who I am today was born from the days I spent with my family and friends in Ehime, and knowing that I am who I am today makes me feel like my life isn't just my own. That's why I want to give back to my hometown and family in various ways. I hope this kind of positive cycle will happen in many places.

兄の家族との集合写真

—Do you have any goals or aspirations for the future?

I want to change the image of agriculture through social media. Agriculture is often undervalued and taken for granted. So, I want to share the realities of farming to help people understand its importance and increase their interest in it.

I also want to connect with farmers and agricultural influencers in Ehime Prefecture and share the charm of Ehime, which I love, with the world. Through these activities, I hope that people, especially those from rural areas, will develop a sense of cherishing their hometown and family. After all, having such feelings is the first step towards primary industries and regional revitalization. I want to be a role model for young people who love their hometown.

With an overflowing love for his hometown, Miura is full of energy and enthusiasm. We can't take our eyes off him from now on.

No. 933

Interview and text by: Waseda Weekly Reporter
Yura Wada, 2nd year student School of Political Science and Economics