Okayama's Abandoned Farmland Becomes a Learning Space for Children: "Food and Agriculture Childcare Project" Launched Through Collaboration of Local Businesses, Farmers, and Daycares

Task Force Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative Director: Kyui Hayase) has launched the "Connecting Local Rice Fields and Daycares: Food and Agriculture Childcare Project" in June 2026, in collaboration with "Tsuzaki no Sato," an experiential complex facility in Akaiwa City, Okayama Prefecture, at its three operated facilities: "Chirurira Nursery School," "Nursery School Poplar Okayama Kurashiki," and "Nursery School Poplar Okayama Omotecho."

This project is an annual program set on farmland, regenerated from abandoned land, operated by the agricultural experience facility "Tsuzaki no Sato." Through this program, children will experience everything from rice planting to harvesting and tasting the harvested rice.

The characteristic feature is that the experience in the rice fields is not just a one-day event. After planting, the project connects this activity to daily childcare through activities such as growing rice in planters within the facility, storytelling with picture boards, and displaying growth records. Through this, we aim to build a system that allows children to continuously feel a connection to nature, food, and the local community.

Background of the Activity: Transforming Abandoned Farmland into a Learning Space and a Place for Intergenerational Exchange

In Japan, the aging of farmers and a shortage of successors are leading to an increase in abandoned farmland, which has become a social issue. On the other hand, opportunities for children to interact with nature and agriculture, as well as with adults in the community, are also decreasing. In response to these challenges, our company has decided to undertake this project as a new approach to find solutions.

"Tsuzaki no Sato" in Akaiwa City, Okayama Prefecture, is an experiential complex facility developed by the CR Group with the aim of revitalizing the region and promoting agriculture. It has been working to create spaces that connect people to people and people to the community, while utilizing local farmland and nature.

In this project, we will utilize that farmland, with local businesses, local farmers, daycares, and local residents collaborating to deliver "authentic agricultural experiences" to children. On the rice planting day, June 3, 2026, a total of 28 children from the three facilities participated, entering the rice fields themselves and planting seedlings with their own hands.

From local residents, we have heard comments such as, "The community becomes brighter when we hear the children's voices," and "We are happy just to have the children come to the rice fields." Local farmland is creating new value as a place for intergenerational exchange.

Creating a System for Continuous Learning and Exchange that Connects Local Rice Fields and Daily Daycare Life

A major feature of this project is that it does not end with just the rice planting experience. Children will not only watch the rice grow in the fields but also grow rice in planters at each facility. Furthermore, picture board stories themed around the life cycle of rice and in-facility displays reviewing the growth of the rice will be implemented, allowing children to continuously engage with rice and changes in nature during their daily childcare.

Children will observe the growth of the rice over a long period, engaging in conversations such as, "I wonder how the rice in the field is doing now?" "It's grown bigger than before," and "The ears are starting to appear."

Although children eat rice almost every day, they often do not have the opportunity to learn how it grows and how much time and effort goes into harvesting it.

In this project, we will connect rice planting, observation of rice growth, encounters with living creatures, interactions with farmers, cultivation activities at the facility, learning through picture board stories, rice harvesting, threshing, and the experience of tasting the harvested rice as a continuous learning process.

We believe that the accumulation of experiences such as touching mud, planting seedlings, feeling the seasonal changes, and rejoicing in the harvest leads to gratitude for food, interest in nature, and affection for the local community.

Local businesses utilize local resources, farmers share their knowledge and experience, daycares connect experiences to learning, and local residents watch over the children's growth. We believe that this cycle itself is an activity that nurtures the future of the community. We want to continue to increase scenes in the community where children meet the local nature and people, and where local adults rejoice in the children's growth.

Comments from Stakeholders

Mr. Taizo Okubo, Representative, CR Group

While we operate as a logistics company, we have grown with the support of the community. Looking around the region, we see various challenges such as the increase in abandoned farmland and the shortage of agricultural workers. On the other hand, the region also has valuable resources such as rich nature, culture, and human connections. "Tsuzaki no Sato" was born to pass on these regional resources to the future.

Seeing the children enter the rice fields and experience agriculture while interacting with local people, I am once again reminded that "the future of a community is nurtured through human connections." Places where children's smiles gather become a great source of vitality for the community. We want to continue our efforts to pass on the appeal of agriculture and nature to the next generation together with the local community.

Ayumi Tanaka, Director, Chirurira Nursery School

Since May, the children have been carefully observing the process of "seedlings" sprouting and growing into seedlings at the facility every day. Because they watched their growth up close for about a month, their excitement before entering the rice fields was even greater, thinking, "Did those seedlings grow this big!" "Will it really become rice?"

When they actually experienced rice planting, they were very excited, saying, "It's cold!" "It feels good!" and felt many discoveries and surprises firsthand.

We value not only teaching knowledge but also children's proactive experiences of "I wonder?" and "I want to try it!" We will not stop at rice planting but will continue to foster children's curiosity through cultivation at the facility and reflection via picture board stories and displays.

I am already looking forward to meeting the children, who will have grown significantly along with the rice, during the harvest season in the fall.

Yusuke Yokoo, Manager, Childcare Learning Center, Task Force Co., Ltd.

What we value is not teaching children knowledge, but creating an environment where curiosity arises through encounters with nature, local people, and the process of food cultivation, leading to "I wonder?" and "I want to know more!"

Rather than just being explained about rice, children's curiosity naturally grows as they actually touch the mud, plant the rice, and watch its growth.

This initiative is not just an agricultural experience. It is a community co-creation project where local businesses, farmers, daycares, and local residents come together to deliver authentic experiences to children.

Furthermore, by bringing the experience from the rice fields back into daily childcare at the facility and connecting it to planter cultivation, picture board stories, and growth record displays, we are creating a system where children can continuously engage with nature and food, rather than just a one-day event.

We want to continue to create an environment with the local community where children can nurture their own discoveries and curiosity while encountering the local nature and people.

Project Overview

◾️Project Name

Connecting Local Rice Fields and Daycares: Food and Agriculture Childcare Project

◾️Implementation Location

Tsuzaki no Sato

◾️Participating Facilities

Chirurira Nursery School

Nursery School Poplar Okayama Kurashiki

Nursery School Poplar Okayama Omotecho

◾️Main Activities

Rice planting experience

Observation of rice growth

In-facility planter cultivation

Picture board stories about the life cycle of rice

In-facility display of growth records

Rice harvesting experience

Experience of tasting harvested rice

◾️Cooperation

CR Group Tsuzaki no Sato

https://tsuzakinosato.jp/

About Tsuzaki no Sato

"Agricultural Experience Facility Tsuzaki no Sato" is based in a renovated traditional Japanese house dating back to the Meiji era in the Tazaki district of Akaiwa City, Okayama Prefecture.

In addition to harvest experiences in surrounding fields and orchards, it offers meals where you can enjoy locally sourced ingredients and sake, and a large public bath to heal fatigue of mind and body, making it an "agri-resort spot" to enjoy in nature.

CR Group Tsuzaki no Sato

https://tsuzakinosato.jp/

【Recruitment of Childcare Staff】

Poplar is looking for childcare staff who will face each child's "desire to do" and create environments and experiences together.

If you resonate with this initiative, please visit our recruitment page.

New Graduate Recruitment Page: https://rabi-popo-pro.com/

Mid-Career Recruitment Page: https://www.taskforce-pr.co.jp/chuto-hoikushi-lp/

【Company Profile】

Task Force Group

Task Force Co., Ltd. and its group company, Task Force Mitera Co., Ltd., operate five businesses aimed at supporting childcare and employment for both individuals and corporations, including operating directly managed nursery schools (Nursery School Poplar), undertaking the operation of in-company nursery schools, and providing babysitting services.

With the corporate philosophy of creating unique educational services with the theme "Education and Experience Build People," we protect children's lives, potential, and future with tension and a sense of responsibility.

Company Name: Task Force Co., Ltd.

Location: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

Business Activities: Childcare services, babysitting services, etc.

Facilities Operated: Urban Nursery School Poplar, etc.

Homepage: https://www.taskforce-pr.co.jp

<Media Inquiries Regarding This Matter>

Task Force Co., Ltd. Brand Communication Department

Contact Persons: Watano, Yokoo, Matsuya

Email Address: pr@taskforce-pr.co.jp

Phone Number: 06-4795-6090