*This is a manuscript for presentation at the SNN Producer Exchange Meeting on February 5, 2020.

I grew up in Hirakata City, Osaka, in a typical Showa-era family that has been an office worker since my grandfather's generation. All my father's side were salaried workers, and no one thought that I would become a farmer. I am still very puzzled.

When I was 25, I first encountered natural farming for 1 years. It all started when I helped with natural farming. Although I managed to graduate from university, I was wandering around my hometown without even looking for a job. What a healthy life it is to go into the rice field, pick grass, and harvest the rice! At that time, I thought that it would be great if I could live with this.

After working as an employee of an organization, in 2014, at the age of 30, entered farming. Even though I was a farmer, I didn't have a particular farm field, so-called Putaro. Marry her who had promised her marriage. I was able to take the first step as a bullish and bearish farmer.

② Leap

Natural farming started in 2014. 6 Natural farming started with a small rice field as small as a ridge. At first, I couldn't make a living with just the natural farming methods, so Mr. Doi of the Shumei Natural Farming Network approached me and hired me as an associate employee of the Shumei Natural Farming Network Kansai Office. He will continue to be a part-time farmer until 2014-2017 while helping Shumei Natural Farming Network. I was able to learn and meet with my seniors by reforming the distribution and going to the producers.

Mr. Kihara, whom I met at the Shumei Natural Farming Network exchange meeting six years ago, introduced me to the tea plantation.

Mr. Doi, Mr. Kihara, Mr. Atsumi

By meeting these three people, we were able to start our natural farming method.

In

2016, I got the opportunity to become an independent farmer at once when I got a large tea plantation in Nara. First, we were able to rent a tea plantation of 6 hectares, and we were also able to rent a nearby tea plantation. When the total area exceeded one town, in anticipation of future prosperity, I established Yusando Co., Ltd. under the trade name of my late father's nickname, Yu-san.

2018OrganicJAS

2018Nara Certified Farmer

2020 Scheduled to acquire Shumei Certification

Currently, the tea growing area exceeds 2 towns, and we also grow rice, vegetables, grapes and plums.

④Cultivation of tea using natural farming methods

From the beginning, we have been cultivating with the Shumei natural farming method. It is said that the natural cultivation of tea, which is generally said to use the most fertilizers and pesticides, is very difficult. The tea leaves are harvested carefully so as not to burden the tea trees as much as possible in order to prevent the yield from dropping and the vigor of the trees to decline. 1We are committed to making tea that you can enjoy in your daily life, not just bancha.

5Tsuki Sencha

6Matcha

7Moon Hojicha&Oolong Tea

8Moon Tea

10Tsuki Hojicha tea bag

3Tsukidaigoro Bancha

Also, last year, a lot of new tea buds were destroyed by the late frost, but

The natural farming trees were strong, and after a month new shoots sprouted, and we were able to harvest them safely

From this year, we are now able to use the new Sencha line.

⑤Yusando

My younger sister and 2 run the company.

Since we only have two employees, we strive to maximize efficiency and share information.

Role sharing is

I: Farming and Accounting, Systems and Design

My little sister - packaging, sales, shipping, gimmicks and events

In order to systemize and improve efficiency as much as possible, I use various services so that most of my work can be done on my smartphone. Please contact us for more details.

①Yusando solution (homemade)

Manage sales information, basic product information, and cultivation diaries. You can operate it with your smartphone.

②Cloud accounting software「freee」

An excellent product that allows you to pay with your smartphone. Accounting work is less than 1/10.

③EC Site→「shopify」

⑤ Communication → " LINE Official"

⑥ SNS → `` Instagram ''

Yu's Tea Party

ーAiming to be a natural tea master who makes matcha and prepares it, we hold tea ceremonies using our own matcha. Next, I'm working hard to reach a level where I can serve kaiseki meals made with vegetables I've grown myself.

The number of places where tea is used is gradually increasing.

Matcha Salon Yu

Usuya-san

Ebisu-san

Shizuku

Takashimaya

⑥What was good about becoming a natural farming farmer?

Rainy days are off.

I don't have a boss.

You can feed your children the produce you grow.

My body has become really strong.

It makes me happiest when people eat and drink what we make./.

→If you don't have to worry about money, farming is the best!

⑦I want to pass on natural farming methods to the next generation

I was not originally a farmer, but I was introduced to the Shumei natural farming method thanks to the seniors. Our teacher Atsumi-san started natural farming when he was 50, and is already 80 years old. The time has come to retire. It will probably be another 35 years before we can be active farmers.

In order for natural farming to spread further, more young people need to become producers and practice natural farming.30I hope my challenge, which was said to be reckless, can give courage to young people who have more potential

This concludes the presentation.

.