Future Link Network Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture; Representative Director: Takeharu Ishii; hereinafter FLN), which promotes the creation of 'related populations,' collaborated with Hokota City, Ibaraki Prefecture, to implement the "Chiioshi Hokota City Agricultural Experience Project." As part of this, an agricultural experience program for strawberries was held at the "Muraito" farm in Hokota City on Friday, March 20, 2026.
At Muraito, representative Takumi Iseki and technical interns from Indonesia work together to cultivate high-quality strawberries with meticulous care.
This program aimed to create 'related populations' – people who engage with the region in a way that is "more than tourism, less than permanent residency" – by allowing participants to experience strawberry harvesting and packing, directly touching the production site and the farmers' passion.
After the program, two participants were interviewed about how their relationship with the region and its people changed through the experience.
1. Background
Hokota City boasts the highest agricultural output (vegetables) among municipalities in Japan for 10 consecutive years from 2014 to 2023, as announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, earning it the title of "Japan's No. 1 vegetable-producing city."
Continuously conveying the charm of a region supported by rich farmland and diverse crops to urban residents not only promotes tourism but also leads to an expansion of the 'related population.'
FLN has collaborated with Hokota City to continuously develop agricultural experiences that connect producers with people from outside the region.
From 2025, this initiative will be positioned as the "Chiioshi ~Regional Oshi-katsu Project~," planning experiential programs not as one-off tourist experiences, but as an entry point for building continuous relationships with the region.
2. Program Details (Day's Schedule)
This program primarily focused on experiencing the work involved in packing and boxing high-quality strawberries produced at Muraito, up to the point where they are delivered to customers as a product.
Participants learned on-site about the actual shipping process, including how to harvest strawberries without damaging them and how to pack them to maintain their appearance and freshness, guided by technical interns from Indonesia.
During breaks in the experience, participants had the opportunity to speak directly with representative Takumi Iseki.
Mr. Iseki studied abroad in Indonesia after graduating from university and decided to pursue agriculture after his overseas experience.
Currently, daily meetings are conducted in Indonesian, and he has set a goal of "creating a farm in Indonesia" in the future.
Touching upon Mr. Iseki's global perspective and his commitment to valuing human connections provided participants with an opportunity to understand the possibilities of agriculture in a more three-dimensional and human way.
One-day Schedule
9:00
Arrive at "Muraito"
9:00〜9:30
Facility tour, explanation from Mr. Iseki about "Muraito" and strawberry/melon cultivation
9:30～12:00
Strawberry harvesting experience
12:00～13:00
Lunch
13:00〜14:30
Strawberry packing experience, maintenance experience, observation of melon house closing work
14:30～15:00
Interaction, participant interviews, closing (questionnaire guidance)
After 15:00
Dismissal
3. Participant Voices
This experience was attended by a parent and child from Gunma Prefecture.
In post-experience interviews, they shared how their perception of agriculture significantly changed after being exposed to Mr. Iseki's emphasis on human interaction and his serious engagement with the interns at "Muraito."
At the same time, it also provided an opportunity for the participants to re-evaluate their own approach to their daily work.
Furthermore, they developed a deeper sense of familiarity with the producer, going beyond a mere experience.
Their proactive attitude indicated a desire to continue engaging with Hokota City and "Muraito," with hopes of assisting with other farm tasks besides harvesting next time.
Direct encounters with producers serve as a powerful entry point for fostering continuous 'related populations.'
The content of this interview is now available as an article on Nativ.media. Please take a look.
Article Here
4. Future Plans
The "Chiioshi Hokota City Project" has been developed as an initiative to create 'related populations' through agricultural experiences and contribute to regional revitalization.
This year's program concludes with this event.
As seen from the participants' spontaneous desire to "help with other farm tasks" during the "Muraito" experience, real interactions with producers serve as a strong driving force for creating continuous relationships with the region.
From next fiscal year onwards, we plan to maximize the knowledge gained this year to plan and develop more fulfilling programs that encourage participants to engage more deeply with producers and continue visiting Hokota City.
Please look forward to further developments.
【Related Information】
“A day touching the work of a strawberry farmer” nurtured feelings for Hokota City: Chiioshi Hokota City Agricultural Experience Project held a strawberry agricultural experience.
⇒https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000476.000058260.html
“Wanting to meet that person” creates repeat visits: Chiioshi Hokota City Agricultural Experience Project's fifth installment, a carrot harvesting experience, was held.
⇒https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000471.000058260.html
【Contact for this matter】
Future Link Network Co., Ltd.
Related Population Creation Department
Inquiry form：https://www.futurelink.co.jp/inquiry/
【Company Profile】
Company Name：Future Link Network Co., Ltd.
Location：Nishifuna Narishima Building, 4-19-3 Nishifuna, Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture
Representative：Takeharu Ishii, Representative Director
Business Activities：Operation of regional information platform "Mypre," promotion of 'related population' creation projects, etc.
URL：https://www.futurelink.co.jp
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: Event