Taking on a New Business to Inherit Japanese Food Culture! Planting of "Specially Cultivated Rice" / Ogakame Agriculture Project
Ogakame Co., Ltd., a company with 170 years of history, has ventured into agriculture as a new business. To preserve Japanese food culture, they began cultivating "Specially Cultivated Rice" in 2026, with the future goal of producing organic rice. The first rice planting was carried out on May 4th.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 21:31
- 🔍 Collected: May 14, 2026 at 13:02
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Ogakame Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture; President: Kentaro Oga; hereinafter 'Ogakame') has embarked on 'agriculture' as a new business to preserve Japanese food culture and 'agriculture' for future generations. As a first step towards the ultimate goal of cultivating organic rice, the company will challenge the production of 'Specially Cultivated Rice' in the first year, 2026.
The project, which started in 2025, involved soil preparation (soil improvement) in February 2026, and the first rice planting was conducted on May 4.
▶ For details, see the feature article on the Ogakame HP
'Agriculture Project' to Inherit Japanese Food Culture [Prologue] | Ogakame Co., Ltd.
■ Point - Overview of the 'Agriculture' Ogakame Aims For -
1. Starting the production of specially cultivated rice as a new business
Our ultimate goal is 'organic rice'. As the first step of this challenge, we will cultivate 'Specially Cultivated Rice' in fiscal 2026.
*What are specially cultivated agricultural products? Guidelines for Labeling of Specially Cultivated Agricultural Products: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
2. Soil improvement in February. Rice planting during Golden Week in May.
・February / Implemented soil preparation (soil improvement) under the guidance of experts.
・May / Implemented rice planting.
3. Weed control without using pesticides
To achieve the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' standard of 'no pesticides used during the cultivation period, no chemical fertilizers used during the cultivation period,' we will perform weed control without using pesticides.
4. Harvest of Ogakame's first 'Specially Cultivated Rice' in the fall (date undecided)
■ Story - Background of Starting Agriculture -
Ogakame has been in the food wholesale business since its founding in 1856. In 2024, we welcomed 'Ohsawa Japan' into our group, which increased opportunities to think deeply about Japanese food culture. Influenced by the philosophy of recommending eating seasonal ingredients grown in the land where one lives, and with Ogakame celebrating its 170th anniversary, we felt the importance of passing on Japanese food culture and its foundation, 'agriculture,' to future generations, and focused on 'agriculture' as a new business. We launched the project in 2025 and started rice cultivation from 2026.
■ Message - Thoughts on the New Business -
'Through the activities of Ohsawa Japan, I witnessed the reality that the number of farmers is decreasing and will likely continue to decrease. Furthermore, I felt that if it comes to organic farming, the number would decrease even more, which led me to want to start farming. Agriculture is an important technique and culture that Japan should preserve. For Ogakame, I believe it will become a business that supports the company 10 years from now.' / President Kentaro Oga
'This project is a concrete step to connect the agriculture that supports Japanese food culture to the next generation. In the first year, we are challenging specially cultivated rice and are carefully working from soil preparation. By actually being on-site, I also realized that the work requires more physical strength than I imagined. While going through trial and error, we will work towards the future realization of organic rice and establish a sustainable form of agriculture.' / Agriculture Project Manager
【Ogakame Co., Ltd. / Company Profile】
Founded: 1856 Established: May 8, 1953
Headquarters: 293 Demachi, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture Representative Director: Kentaro Oga
Business Contents:
[Energy Business] Petroleum business / Sales of gasoline, kerosene, diesel, heavy oil, lubricants, aviation fuel, petroleum products, and by-products. Kerosene delivery business. Development of service stations, automobile maintenance and repair, and non-life insurance agency. Refueling and oil changes. Convenience store operation.
[Food Business] Wholesale of sugar, flour, and other foods. Development and sales of the 'NaturaVie' sweets brand. Import and export of food for overseas, product development. Sales of emergency food.
▶ [Ogakame Official HP] https://ogakame.jp , [170th Anniversary Special Site] https://ogakame.jp/170th/
[Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/ogakame_official
The project, which started in 2025, involved soil preparation (soil improvement) in February 2026, and the first rice planting was conducted on May 4.
▶ For details, see the feature article on the Ogakame HP
'Agriculture Project' to Inherit Japanese Food Culture [Prologue] | Ogakame Co., Ltd.
■ Point - Overview of the 'Agriculture' Ogakame Aims For -
1. Starting the production of specially cultivated rice as a new business
Our ultimate goal is 'organic rice'. As the first step of this challenge, we will cultivate 'Specially Cultivated Rice' in fiscal 2026.
*What are specially cultivated agricultural products? Guidelines for Labeling of Specially Cultivated Agricultural Products: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
2. Soil improvement in February. Rice planting during Golden Week in May.
・February / Implemented soil preparation (soil improvement) under the guidance of experts.
・May / Implemented rice planting.
3. Weed control without using pesticides
To achieve the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' standard of 'no pesticides used during the cultivation period, no chemical fertilizers used during the cultivation period,' we will perform weed control without using pesticides.
4. Harvest of Ogakame's first 'Specially Cultivated Rice' in the fall (date undecided)
■ Story - Background of Starting Agriculture -
Ogakame has been in the food wholesale business since its founding in 1856. In 2024, we welcomed 'Ohsawa Japan' into our group, which increased opportunities to think deeply about Japanese food culture. Influenced by the philosophy of recommending eating seasonal ingredients grown in the land where one lives, and with Ogakame celebrating its 170th anniversary, we felt the importance of passing on Japanese food culture and its foundation, 'agriculture,' to future generations, and focused on 'agriculture' as a new business. We launched the project in 2025 and started rice cultivation from 2026.
■ Message - Thoughts on the New Business -
'Through the activities of Ohsawa Japan, I witnessed the reality that the number of farmers is decreasing and will likely continue to decrease. Furthermore, I felt that if it comes to organic farming, the number would decrease even more, which led me to want to start farming. Agriculture is an important technique and culture that Japan should preserve. For Ogakame, I believe it will become a business that supports the company 10 years from now.' / President Kentaro Oga
'This project is a concrete step to connect the agriculture that supports Japanese food culture to the next generation. In the first year, we are challenging specially cultivated rice and are carefully working from soil preparation. By actually being on-site, I also realized that the work requires more physical strength than I imagined. While going through trial and error, we will work towards the future realization of organic rice and establish a sustainable form of agriculture.' / Agriculture Project Manager
【Ogakame Co., Ltd. / Company Profile】
Founded: 1856 Established: May 8, 1953
Headquarters: 293 Demachi, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture Representative Director: Kentaro Oga
Business Contents:
[Energy Business] Petroleum business / Sales of gasoline, kerosene, diesel, heavy oil, lubricants, aviation fuel, petroleum products, and by-products. Kerosene delivery business. Development of service stations, automobile maintenance and repair, and non-life insurance agency. Refueling and oil changes. Convenience store operation.
[Food Business] Wholesale of sugar, flour, and other foods. Development and sales of the 'NaturaVie' sweets brand. Import and export of food for overseas, product development. Sales of emergency food.
▶ [Ogakame Official HP] https://ogakame.jp , [170th Anniversary Special Site] https://ogakame.jp/170th/
[Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/ogakame_official