WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 is Kitakyushu! Robot Rice Farming Begins in Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyushu City
Tmsuk, DEN-no, and ineRobo will launch Phase 2 of 'WORKROID Agriculture' in Kitakyushu City starting May 2026, developing new swarm-type robots, growing staple rice, and engaging the community to revitalize mountainous farmland.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 23:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 11:57 (93h 25m after Collected)
Tmsuk Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; President: Yuji Kawakubo; hereinafter 'Tmsuk'), together with DEN-no Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture; Representative Director: Tomoyuki Kurata; hereinafter 'DEN-no') and ineRobo Inc. (Headquarters: Munakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture; CEO: Takeshi Katagiri; hereinafter 'ineRobo'), will conduct robot rice farming ('WORKROID Agriculture') starting this year in Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 Robot Lineup Plan
Since 2023, Tmsuk has been working towards the realization of 'WORKROID Agriculture,' a labor-saving rice farming method utilizing robots, in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture. So far, we have developed 7 types of robots for rice farming and have repeated demonstration experiments by introducing them to fields in Nobeoka. Based on these results, starting in May 2026, we will begin developing robots useful for maintaining rice farming in hilly and mountainous areas in a new field in Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. We aim to realize production, distribution, citizen participation, and regional cooperation by building exit schemes such as work contract services and high value-added products.
WORKROID Agriculture in Kitakyushu
■ Features of WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 (in Kitakyushu)
✔ Development & Improvement of New Rice Farming Robots
We plan to develop new pest control and harvesting robots suitable for rice farming in hilly/mountainous areas, and improve seeding robots.
✔ Challenging Staple Rice
Cultivating staple rice, not rice for flour, using robot farming.
✔ Citizen Participation & Regional Cooperation
Exploring rice farming support in collaboration with schools and local residents present in Kitakyushu City.
✔ Cultivating Sales Channels
The rice produced by robot farming will also be sold through regular deliveries to urban residents and overseas via EC.
● Polishing Robots Designed for Hilly and Mountainous Areas
In WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 1 (in Nobeoka), we evaluated performance by implementing robot-assisted seeding, weed suppression, pest repelling, and harvesting compatible with double-cropping. We listened to opinions from local farmers and many others to extract issues that need solving.
Based on these, in WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 (in Kitakyushu), we aim to create a robot lineup that dramatically improves productivity by developing new robots and improving existing ones. The newly introduced robots will be announced sequentially as the rice farming progresses. The first phase will feature a swarm-type seeding robot, which will plant seeds in rows while navigating the water surface. This allows for straight-line seeding, much like traditional rice planting, rather than the scattered sowing typical of drones. Furthermore, it does not require special qualifications or strict safety management systems.
● Cultivating Staple Food Rice
In WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 1 (in Nobeoka), we cultivated rice for flour that is lodging-resistant and suitable for labor-saving farming. In this WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 (in Kitakyushu), we plan to cultivate a staple rice variety developed in Fukuoka Prefecture. We will evaluate the balance of yield, taste, and the labor-saving effects of robot farming.
● Creation of Citizen Participation / Regional Cooperation Model
Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, where WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 will be implemented, has the following features. Utilizing these, we aim to build a mechanism where the community and citizens support mountainous farmland while utilizing robots.
Both a City of 900,000 and a Mountainous Area
Utilizing the proximity of urban areas and farmlands for citizen-participatory maintenance of mountainous farmland.
Many Science Education Institutions
Providing opportunities for students to apply their intellectual curiosity and problem-solving motivation in real fields.
A City of Technology and Robots
Implementing innovative agricultural projects with robots in an environment where the robotics industry has taken root.
● Distributing Robot-Farmed Rice with New Added Value
In the previous WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 1 (in Nobeoka), we conducted robot rice farming using varieties for rice flour, and named the milled rice flour 'Raikou' for sale. Dishes and sweets made with Raikou are being sold as hometown tax return gifts in Nobeoka City and at restaurants in Tokyo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, etc. For the staple rice produced in WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 (in Kitakyushu), ineRobo, which builds new sales channels for robot-farmed rice, is considering regular deliveries to urban residents in Tokyo and overseas sales.
■ Future Developments
Since its founding in 2000, Tmsuk has developed over 50 types of robots. Based on the technology and know-how accumulated so far, WORK...
WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 Robot Lineup Plan
Since 2023, Tmsuk has been working towards the realization of 'WORKROID Agriculture,' a labor-saving rice farming method utilizing robots, in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture. So far, we have developed 7 types of robots for rice farming and have repeated demonstration experiments by introducing them to fields in Nobeoka. Based on these results, starting in May 2026, we will begin developing robots useful for maintaining rice farming in hilly and mountainous areas in a new field in Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. We aim to realize production, distribution, citizen participation, and regional cooperation by building exit schemes such as work contract services and high value-added products.
WORKROID Agriculture in Kitakyushu
■ Features of WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 (in Kitakyushu)
✔ Development & Improvement of New Rice Farming Robots
We plan to develop new pest control and harvesting robots suitable for rice farming in hilly/mountainous areas, and improve seeding robots.
✔ Challenging Staple Rice
Cultivating staple rice, not rice for flour, using robot farming.
✔ Citizen Participation & Regional Cooperation
Exploring rice farming support in collaboration with schools and local residents present in Kitakyushu City.
✔ Cultivating Sales Channels
The rice produced by robot farming will also be sold through regular deliveries to urban residents and overseas via EC.
● Polishing Robots Designed for Hilly and Mountainous Areas
In WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 1 (in Nobeoka), we evaluated performance by implementing robot-assisted seeding, weed suppression, pest repelling, and harvesting compatible with double-cropping. We listened to opinions from local farmers and many others to extract issues that need solving.
Based on these, in WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 (in Kitakyushu), we aim to create a robot lineup that dramatically improves productivity by developing new robots and improving existing ones. The newly introduced robots will be announced sequentially as the rice farming progresses. The first phase will feature a swarm-type seeding robot, which will plant seeds in rows while navigating the water surface. This allows for straight-line seeding, much like traditional rice planting, rather than the scattered sowing typical of drones. Furthermore, it does not require special qualifications or strict safety management systems.
● Cultivating Staple Food Rice
In WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 1 (in Nobeoka), we cultivated rice for flour that is lodging-resistant and suitable for labor-saving farming. In this WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 (in Kitakyushu), we plan to cultivate a staple rice variety developed in Fukuoka Prefecture. We will evaluate the balance of yield, taste, and the labor-saving effects of robot farming.
● Creation of Citizen Participation / Regional Cooperation Model
Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, where WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 will be implemented, has the following features. Utilizing these, we aim to build a mechanism where the community and citizens support mountainous farmland while utilizing robots.
Both a City of 900,000 and a Mountainous Area
Utilizing the proximity of urban areas and farmlands for citizen-participatory maintenance of mountainous farmland.
Many Science Education Institutions
Providing opportunities for students to apply their intellectual curiosity and problem-solving motivation in real fields.
A City of Technology and Robots
Implementing innovative agricultural projects with robots in an environment where the robotics industry has taken root.
● Distributing Robot-Farmed Rice with New Added Value
In the previous WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 1 (in Nobeoka), we conducted robot rice farming using varieties for rice flour, and named the milled rice flour 'Raikou' for sale. Dishes and sweets made with Raikou are being sold as hometown tax return gifts in Nobeoka City and at restaurants in Tokyo, Kyoto, Fukuoka, etc. For the staple rice produced in WORKROID Agriculture Chapter 2 (in Kitakyushu), ineRobo, which builds new sales channels for robot-farmed rice, is considering regular deliveries to urban residents in Tokyo and overseas sales.
■ Future Developments
Since its founding in 2000, Tmsuk has developed over 50 types of robots. Based on the technology and know-how accumulated so far, WORK...