Early Rice Planting at Takatsuki Municipal Kashida Elementary School, Located Approximately 350 Meters Above Sea Level

On Wednesday, May 13, Reiwa 8 (2026), all 57 students of Takatsuki Municipal Kashida Elementary School participated in their annual rice planting experience under the guidance of local farmers and others. The Kashida area, located in the northern mountainous region of Takatsuki City at an altitude of approximately 350 meters, has lower temperatures compared to urban areas, and rice planting is carried out about one month earlier each year.

At the school, located in the mountainous region north of Takatsuki City, they leverage the rich natural environment and the characteristics of a small school to provide learning that incorporates the rich nature, culture, and history of the Kashida area, with the desire for children to grow up strong and with rich hearts. Furthermore, the school has adopted a "special admission system" since 2003, which allows enrollment and transfer from other school districts under certain conditions. A major feature of the school's rice planting class is that local children and urban children participate together, utilizing the characteristics of a small school, allowing all students to experience farm work that utilizes the blessings of rich nature.

On this day's rice planting, in addition to all students, local farmers and parents also participated. After receiving explanations from school staff such as "Hold 2 or 3 seedlings and plant them firmly so that your fingers are more than halfway submerged in the water," the children entered the flooded rice paddies and began planting Kinuhikari seedlings. Older students, accustomed to the task, taught the first-graders who were struggling with their first rice planting experience, and the scene of them rapidly improving was observed. The children, covered in mud, said, "I was happy that I became good at planting," and enjoyed the rice planting experience while sweating together. Going forward, they plan to observe the growth of the seedlings, and the children are scheduled to harvest them in the autumn.