Dialogue with One “Hiroshi Ohki, Eighth-Generation Farmer,Ohki Farm”

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Kawagoe,Saitama

Dialogue with One “Hiroshi Ohki, Eighth-Generation Farmer,Ohki Farm”

Musashino Fallen Leaves Compost Farming Method Recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System

In the Edo period, Kawagoe was valued as an important northern outpost supporting Edo (present-day Tokyo), and shared a close and lively relationship with the city.

Edo culture left a strong mark on Kawagoe, and even today you can still feel the spirit of that era in the Kawagoe Festival and the town’s traditional kura-zukuri streetscape.

The city is home to many artisans and merchants who continue to uphold these traditions.

By spending time with master craftspeople and those who have dedicated their lives to preserving the old ways, you can experience something far deeper than what typical sightseeing offers: a genuine connection and a lasting sense of inspiration.

Why not take a moment to talk with just one of them? You might experience a moment that truly moves you.

A single encounter could change the way you see the world.

Don’t miss the chance to experience a once-in-a-lifetime connection.

Passed down since the Edo period, the fallen leaves compost farming method has been used for over 360 years to nurture healthy soil.

This approach involves collecting fallen leaves from the forest, composting them, and returning the nutrients to the fields.

When the same crop is grown repeatedly, it tends to attract microbes that specifically favor that plant, which can make it difficult to grow good vegetables.

Using fallen leaves compost, however, brings greater microbial diversity to the soil, allowing farmers to grow vegetables that are not only healthier, but more flavorful.
Fallen leaves compost is the foundation for building healthy soil. In winter, fallen leaves are mixed with chicken manure, then slowly fermented with added moisture. Over the course of a year, the mixture matures into compost.
This slow process is what brings the compost to life.
Because it forms the foundation for growing vegetables that are both safe and reliable, we give it as much care and attention as possible.
We will continue working the soil in this way, encouraging a rich environment where many kinds of beneficial microbes can thrive.

Honoring Tradition, Embracing New Challenges

Oki Farm – Hiroshi Oki, Eighth-Generation Farmer

Oki Farm is an open-field vegetable farm located in the Fukuhara area of southwestern Kawagoe. The farm has been run by the Oki family for eight generations, dating back to the Edo period.

Just behind the family home lies a flatland forest that has been used since those early days to support the fallen leaves compost farming method, a practice the farm continues to this day.
With a focus on reducing pesticides and chemical fertilizers, we grow fresh, safe vegetables with a commitment to providing peace of mind to our consumers.

In March 2017, this method was officially recognized as part of Japan’s Agricultural Heritage.
Looking ahead, we hope to continue honoring tradition while embracing new ideas and challenges.