Bringing 'Japan's New Rice' to Indonesian Specified Skilled Workers! Upty Global Begins Rice Cultivation

Upty Global Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Hideaki Ida), which introduces Indonesian specified skilled workers to the Japanese automotive industry, has started rice cultivation and planted seedlings in May 2026. After harvest, the rice is planned to be sent to specified skilled workers employed in Japan through the company.

Instead of machine planting, they are doing hand planting to foster gratitude for agriculture, connect with mud, interact with nature and living creatures, and learn about rice cultivation, all while promoting food education for the next generation.

Background for Starting Rice Cultivation

The impetus for starting rice cultivation was the desire to let Indonesian specified skilled workers active in Japan taste Japan's new rice. Indonesia has one of the world's leading rice-eating cultures, with rice consumption about 1.6 times that of Japan. However, due to different rice varieties and climates, and multiple harvests per year, the concept of 'new rice as a seasonal delicacy' as in Japan is almost nonexistent.

The company operates a boarding school in Indonesia focusing on 'mechanics' and 'Japanese language,' carefully nurturing young people aiming to become specified skilled workers (mechanics) and introducing them to Japanese repair shops. Even after employment in Japan, the company maintains contact through regular interviews and study support. Thinking of them as family, the company wanted them to taste the new rice they grew and learn more about Japan's unique sense of season and charm, leading to the start of rice cultivation.

First Rice Cultivation, Including Food Education and Nature Experience

The rice planting was carried out by company employees and their families. With food education as a goal, they performed 'hand planting' in rice paddies using natural farming methods without any pesticides or fertilizers.

Children who hesitated to enter the paddy barefoot became curious through the feel of mud and interaction with living creatures.

They learned things like 'How will this seedling grow?' and 'How much rice can be harvested per plant?' while completing the planting.

Employees will also handle maintenance until harvest, and children are scheduled to participate in the autumn rice harvesting.

Future Outlook

As this is the first rice cultivation, they are starting with an expected harvest of about 60 kg (equivalent to one bale).

The harvested new rice is planned to be given away via lottery during regular online交流会 (exchange meetings) with the workers.

Next year, they plan to increase the cultivated area and are considering including the rice in the 'Vegetable Box' sent to specified skilled workers.

What is the Vegetable Box?

This is one of the company's 'unique support' services. They deliver a box of domestic vegetables every month to the homes or workplaces of specified skilled workers employed in Japan through the company.

They carefully select safe and delicious vegetables from partner producers nationwide, even though they are called 'substandard' due to size inconsistencies. This supports the nutrition, household finances, and retention of specified skilled workers working in an unfamiliar country, while also aiming to contribute to reducing food loss, which is estimated at 5.23 million tons annually (Source: Ministry of the Environment, Japan's estimated food loss amount).

Example of one person's Vegetable Box:
1 Chinese cabbage, 2 eggplants, 2 carrots, 2 cucumbers, 1 pack of bunashimeji mushrooms, 6 potatoes, 4 heads of garlic, 4 sweet potatoes, 1 turnip, 1 apple

*Contents vary each time as they are assorted substandard vegetables.

Upty Global 'Vegetable Box'

[Company Profile]
Company Name: Upty Global Co., Ltd.
Representative: President Hideaki Ida
Headquarters: JR Ebisu Building 7F, 1-5-5 Ebisu Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Website: https://upty-global.com/
Established (Business): December 2019
Established (Incorporation): July 2024
Capital: 340 million yen
Employees: 20
Business: Foreign recruitment support, foreign education, residency status application agency, non-life insurance agency, overseas expansion consulting, planning and management of various seminars and events.