Report: 20 Elementary Schoolers Experience Mochi Barley Harvesting & Cooking in Kato City

On May 16, 2026, Maruyanagi Oguya Co., Ltd., Kato City, JA Minori, and local producers hosted a 'Mochi Barley Experience Class' for about 20 local elementary schoolers. The event aimed to deepen their interest in regional agriculture. In the first part, an intestinal health seminar taught children about dietary fiber using 'gut-nurturing cards'. Next, participants moved to a field to harvest mochi barley by hand using sickles and tried threshing it, experiencing the joy of agriculture. Finally, with the help of 10 high schoolers from Hyogo Prefectural Yashiro High School, the children cooked Tenshinhan and mochi barley crackers. Despite some struggles, they enjoyed the process and expressed a desire to eat mochi barley again. This food education activity helped nurture children's minds and revitalize local agriculture, building on the mochi barley cultivation that began in Kato City in 2017 and has expanded to about 160 hectares.