#Japan #Open House Group #Ota City #Rice Planting

Open House Group Hosts a Rice Planting Experience for New Hires

On June 7, 2025, Open House Group conducted a unique training session for its new hires in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture, in collaboration with the local government and JA Ota City, the agricultural cooperative. This hands-on experience aimed to connect new employees with the importance of agriculture and reinforce teamwork among them.

The agricultural industry is currently facing challenges such as an aging workforce and a shortage of successors, as well as rising rice prices prompting attention to production and distribution issues. Open House Group has established a vision to enhance regional vitality and contribute to the community's well-being. In Ota City, the company operates a sales center outside of the major urban areas and develops residential projects. This training was designed not only to foster communication skills but also to instill a sense of responsibility towards food production and local agricultural challenges.

The day began with an inspiring greeting from Yoshimitsu Niijima, the Director of the Agriculture Department in Ota City. He mentioned, "It's a beautiful day for planting rice. I encourage all of you to immerse yourselves in this agriculture experience as much as possible." Following this, Jun Amagasa, the Chairman of JA Ota City, delivered a lecture titled "Thinking About the Future of Food and Agriculture." Amagasa pointed out critical issues such as declining numbers of primary agricultural workers, the decreasing amount of farmland, and an anticipated decrease in food self-sufficiency rates. He emphasized the global food competition as the world population grows, while Japan faces a declining population. His insights highlighted the importance of local production for local consumption and encouraged participants to appreciate the effort behind each grain of rice.

After the lecture, approximately 40 new hires went to the rice paddy, where they received hands-on instruction from farmers and JA Ota City staff. They took off their shoes and formed a line to plant rice seedlings carefully, making sure that the plants stood upright. They worked diligently to keep the rows straight, often encouraging each other with shouts of teamwork. The variety they planted was "Niji no Kirameki," known for its taste comparable to the renowned "Koshihikari" and suitable for a broad range of cultivation across regions. Over a span of two hours, they managed to plant about 5,000 seedlings across 300 square meters.

Adding to the excitement of the day, Ota City's mascot, "Otan," and the official mascot of the Gunma Crane Thunders basketball team, "Thunder-kun," showed up to cheer on the new hires, enhancing the festive atmosphere.

Participants reflected on the training with meaningful insights:

• - "Seeing the reality of food waste, I realize I want to be more conscious about valuing the rice on our table."
• - "By planting the seedlings carefully, I truly grasped the hard work of farmers behind every grain."
• - "Learning that just one more bite each day could increase Japan’s food self-sufficiency by 1% was eye-opening; I want to be mindful in my eating habits."
• - "The labor involved in rice farming was more challenging than I expected; it's crucial that rice is sold at a fair price that corresponds to the farmer’s effort."
• - "Planting together with my peers taught me the importance of teamwork and communication."
• - "Understanding the reality of ‘food shortages’ makes me want to contribute towards domestic production through simple actions."

In the autumn of this year, the new hires will return to the field for rice harvesting, with the bounty being used as gifts for customers and students undertaking job hunts, symbolizing the circle of contribution between the agricultural community and the urban population.

Event Overview

• - Organizer: Open House Group
• - Support: Ota City, JA Ota City
• - Date: June 7, 2025
• - Location: Rice fields in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture
• - Participants: Approximately 40 new hires, local officials, JA Ota City representatives, and farmers.

The Open House Group has recently celebrated achieving a major milestone, reaching a revenue of 1 trillion yen within the fiscal year 2023. The company aims to set continual records and maintain their position as a leading real estate business in Japan. Plans are in place to recruit 1,000 new graduates within a three-year span, with enhanced entry-level salaries and benefits to attract talented individuals.

As part of their commitment to regional revitalization, Open House Group emphasizes creating cycles between communities and promoting sustainable development initiatives across Japan. These include various projects designed to counteract issues such as population decline and revitalizing rural areas.

About Open House Group

Since its establishment in 1997, Open House Group has transitioned to a holding company structure and expanded its operations across several regions beyond its original base, focusing on various real estate services, including residential properties, commercial real estate, and environmental initiatives. With ongoing collaborations and innovations, the company is striving to provide greater value and support for customers and communities alike.