On Saturday, February 22, 2025, “Noto Satoyama Satoumi Talk 2” was held at the Annex Terrace on the first floor of the United Nations University headquarters in Tokyo. The Noto Peninsula, recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), is a region that suffered significant damage from last year’s earthquake and heavy rains. Following the first event, this session once again welcomed producers from Noto as guest speakers. The event featured a talk session and an exchange gathering, moderated by Sayako Koyama, Research Associate at UNU-IAS OUIK.
In the first part, Masako Torii (Torii Soy Sauce Shop) and Kiyohiro Inaba (Noto Yamabiko, a local agricultural association) passionately shared their thoughts on the current situation and their efforts toward recovery after the disaster.
Ms. Torii expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the immense support and assistance she received from many people, which enabled her to resume soy sauce production after the earthquake. She shared heartwarming stories, such as receiving soybeans from a farmer who was doubly affected by the disaster in Oku-Noto and how carpenters from outside the prefecture helped repair the soy sauce brewery immediately after the earthquake.
Mr. Inaba, who produces rice and Noto vegetables, looked back on the harsh realities he faced immediately after the earthquake he faced immediately after the earthquake. Due to the extensive damage across the Noto region, his usual sales channels to inns and restaurants were completely disrupted. Confronted with unsellable vegetables after the disaster, Mr. Inaba chose to donate them to soup kitchens, helping to support those in need. Turning adversity into an opportunity, he expanded his activities beyond traditional farming by engaging with the community, launching experiential programs, and exploring new sales channels.
Yuki Hagino (Nogashi Research Institute)
In the second part, Yuki Hagino (Nogashi Research Institute) shared her journey of moving to the satoyama despite growing up in Tokyo, captivated by the rich natural beauty of the area. She spoke about how the region’s traditional self-sufficient lifestyle, including the use of spring water, preserved foods, and firewood for heating, provided vital support during the post-disaster period when infrastructure recovery was delayed.
At the beginning of the second part, a video of the picture book “Let’s Make a Harvest Feast!”, produced by United Nations University in cooperation with Yuki Hagino in 2018 was presented. You can watch it from the link below.
