IWAKURA, Aichi -- An initiative to deliver newly harvested rice to single-mother households is spreading in the three prefectures in central Japan's Tokai region. Mothers and children who recently participated in harvesting rice were thrilled by the fields' bounty.

       The rice planting starts in June, and the volunteers and farmers work together to produce rice in exclusive paddies. Many mothers have expressed their gratitude for this initiative, saying that it really helps them and that their children can now appreciate food.

       "Mom, is this rice?" and, "I can't believe this is how rice is made," were some of the comments aired by young participants. In early October in a rice field in Iwakura, Aichi Prefecture, children were trying to harvest rice one after another with sickles in hand while getting advice from Kenichi Irimoto, a 46-year-old farmer who lives nearby. After reaping some of the crop by hand, Irimoto then used a combine harvester to collect the rice from the approximately 1,000 square meter field.

       About 20 mothers and children in seven groups who applied through the prefectural welfare federation of single-mother families and widows participated in the event. A 41-year-old woman who works part-time at a restaurant in Nagoya's Chikusa Ward, who attended the harvest with her second son aged 7, said that her salary has been reduced because her working hours have been shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic.

       "I am really grateful because my children eat a lot, and I can get by with this rice," the woman commented. Her second-grade son, who was harvesting rice for the first time, said happily, "It was fun to reap many crops."

       This project was planned by Atsushi Matsuoka, 66, director of a non-profit organization in the prefectural city of Iwakura, and named the "Baiden Project." Volunteers pay for the cost of cultivating the rice and other expenses for farmers to grow the crops. The harvested rice is then delivered to single-parent families and others.

       In the case of Iwakura, each family will pay 500 yen (about $4.4) to receive 20 kilograms of fresh rice. By having the families pay even a small amount of money, they hope that people "will not just receive charity, but proudly participate and receive the rice, thinking that it is their own paddy and their own rice."

       The number of supporters is increasing. In Mie Prefecture, a 66-year-old company owner in Suzuka covered the cost, and Katsuya Tanaka, a 48-year-old farmer, allocated about 2,000 square meters of his rice fields for the project.

       Tanaka said, "I had heard that there were people who had lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic and needed food. I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help them."

       In early October, about 500 kilograms of harvested and milled Koshihikari rice was handed over to the welfare association for single-mother families and widows in Suzuka and other organizations. Yoshimi Kitano, 76, chairperson of the association, said, "Rice is a source of vitality. There are many mothers who cannot speak out and ask for help, so this kind of support is very much appreciated." The new rice is distributed to single-mother households in the city who wish to receive it, and is also served at a "children's cafeteria" -- providing free or low-priced meals to local kids -- organized by the association.

       In Gifu Prefecture, a similar activity is being conducted in the city of Hashima, and all regions are expected to continue working on the project in the future. Seeking greater cooperation in the project, Matsuoka said, "People with a strong passion have been cooperating with us in various places. We would like to continue making more children smile."

       (Japanese original by Sanami Kato, Nagoya News Center)

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