From Office to Farm in Sakai City, Fukui: How I Became a Farmer on the Sanrihama Sand Dunes – 'The Agricultural Support Center Pushed Me Forward'

Ryota Shimizu checking the growth of 'Koshi no Ruby' mid-sized tomatoes in his greenhouse.

Akimasa Tanaka, who has shown strong ambition for expansion by adding five new greenhouses this spring.

On June 1, two young farmers who recently started farming on the Sanrihama sand dunes—stretching along the Sea of Japan between Sakai City and Fukui City in Fukui Prefecture—shared their personal stories at the JA Fukui Hamishigo Purchasing Store in Mikuni Town, Sakai City, under the theme, 'Why I Chose Farming.' Both individuals come from non-farming backgrounds and made the career shift from office jobs to farming. In recent years, over the past 14 years, more than 40 people have moved from other cities to farm in the Sanrihama sand dunes. To encourage even more new farmers, the 'Sanrihama Sand Dune Agricultural Support Center'—a joint organization by Sakai and Fukui Cities—organized this event to share firsthand experiences. The two farmers passionately spoke about the appeal of horticultural farming in the Sanrihama area and their future aspirations.

Two men who were never farmers—something 'clicked' later in life

The speakers were graduates of the Fukui Horticulture College (in Awara City): Ryota Shimizu (40), in his 7th year of farming, and Akimasa Tanaka (47), in his 3rd year.

This event was held as part of the regular general meeting of the 'Sanrihama Sand Dune Farming Promotion Council,' aiming to raise awareness about the activities of the Sanrihama Sand Dune Agricultural Support Center, which works on securing new farmers and revitalizing idle farmland across the two cities. Around 20 attendees, including Sakai City Mayor Sadatomo Ikeda (who also chairs the council), heads of related organizations, and officials from Fukui Prefecture, Sakai City, and Fukui City, listened intently.

Ryota Shimizu (40), farming in Yamagishi, Mikuni Town, Sakai City, for 7 years

"Whether you can become a farmer or not… the key is who you consult"

Shimizu Ryota, born in the Miyama district of Fukui City. After working in construction, he transitioned to farming in his 30s. He currently cultivates 'Koshi no Ruby' tomatoes, large watermelons, and baby turnips in seven greenhouses in Sakai City.

"I started with three greenhouses in my first year, added two more the next year, and this year added another two, bringing my total to seven greenhouses. This wasn’t part of an initial plan—it happened organically. More part-time helpers joined in the village, I found a partner who understood and supported my unstable work schedule, and I even had a son who might carry on the farming legacy. A series of coincidences led to this natural expansion.

"My parents’ hometown, the Miyama district of Fukui City, is a picture-perfect countryside. I grew up in a non-farming family, but as a child, I played in the soil because my grandmother cultivated a nearby field. However, in my early 20s, a job at a large-scale rice cultivation facility was completely unenjoyable, and I once gave up on becoming a farmer. For about 10 years after that, I worked in the construction industry. But one day, when I returned to my hometown, I saw my grandmother’s field abandoned and overgrown. That moment flipped a switch inside me—something that had been turned off for years. I started growing garlic on weekends, almost like a home garden, became deeply absorbed in it, and realized, 'Farming is truly enjoyable.' From there, the desire to seriously learn horticulture grew stronger, leading me to enroll in the Fukui Horticulture College.

"After graduating, I struggled to find someone who would rent me farmland. But by consulting the Sanrihama Sand Dune Agricultural Support Center, which I learned about through the college, my farmland issue was quickly resolved. My vague dream of becoming a horticultural farmer suddenly became tangible, and I began farming in the Sanrihama sand dunes. The strong support system in Sakai City also gave me the push I needed.

"From my experience, the most important thing for becoming a farmer boils down to one question: 'Who should I consult first?' To anyone who thinks, 'I really want to become a farmer, I want to give it a try,' but doesn’t know where to start, I sincerely hope they learn about the existence of this Sanrihama Sand Dune Agricultural Support Center.

"Now, I’m able to live as a horticultural farmer thanks to many people: Sakai City for financial support, senior farmers and prefectural staff who guide me in cultivation, JA for supplying materials, and the agricultural support center for handling farmland procedures. I’m deeply grateful to all of them.

Akimasa Tanaka (47), in his third year of farming on the sand dunes in Shirakata Town, Fukui City

"I started farming at the worst possible time… which is exactly why I committed to expanding my greenhouses"

Tanaka Akimasa, originally from Aichi Prefecture. He lives in the Morita district of Fukui City and commutes to farm in Shirakata Town’s Sanrihama sand dunes. He currently cultivates mid-sized tomatoes, melons, Kinpuku watermelons, and carrots in 11 greenhouses.

"I’ll be 48 this year. I’ve lived in Fukui for 25 years. Previously, I worked for about 18 years in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, handling quality and production management on the production line. I started with six greenhouses in my first year and dramatically added five more starting in my third year. I originally had no interest in farming, but after watching a TV program featuring former office workers who earned stable incomes and led fulfilling lives with time for family and hobbies, I thought, 'I want that too.' At 43, I took early retirement and enrolled in the Fukui Horticulture College in January of Reiwa 4 (2022), starting farming two years later.

"I chose Shirakata Town because of its well-established support system for new farmers, including the agricultural support center. At first, I had a negative impression of sandy soil—low water and nutrient retention. But conversely, the fact that I can freely control fertilizer and water from a 'zero' starting point is fascinating. The Fukui Horticulture College was excellent, allowing me to learn everything from classroom theory to hands-on practice and sales, even with nearly zero prior cultivation experience.

"In my second year of training, there was a 'foster parent' system, which helped me deeply understand the actual farming region. Through my foster parent, I built connections with local residents, which made my transition to farming smooth. The Sanrihama Sand Dune Agricultural Support Center consolidates farmland information in one place, making it easy to access the information I need. Having them mediate when renting farmland allowed me to secure land without any issues.

"This recent expansion was driven by my regional farming plan, which set a five-year income target of 2.5 million yen. I knew that starting with only five or six greenhouses would make achieving this goal very difficult. Originally, I considered expanding into open-field farming, but I was unexpectedly offered the chance to rent five additional greenhouses. Rather than adding new crops, expanding the area for proven, high-performing crops through improved facilities requires less new investment and boosts profitability and labor productivity.

"The timing of my farming start—amid the Ukraine invasion and unstable Middle Eastern situation—was arguably the worst. But I believe such tough conditions aren’t temporary. Looking ahead, I aim to scale up quickly to build a stable business foundation. I plan to achieve the 2.5 million yen income target early and aim for 3 million yen by my fifth year. I’ve just started working with an agricultural processing company as part of business diversification, and I hope to make processed agricultural products a core revenue stream in the future.

Q&A session following the two farmers’ presentations

The two new farmers’ experience-sharing session was held during the general meeting of the 'Sanrihama Sand Dune Farming Promotion Council' in Mikuni Town, Sakai City.

Shimizu: 'People think farming is dirty, but sandy soil is surprisingly clean.'

Tanaka: 'Open-field farming carries high risks like wildlife damage. Greenhouses are recommended, even if they’re costly.'