Yamatane and ARTH Launch Full-Scale Initiatives for Regional Revitalization at Nagasaka Terraced Rice Fields (Himi City, Toyama Prefecture)

Yamatane Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Iwao Kawayanagi, hereinafter 'Yamatane') and ARTH Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Yuki Takano, hereinafter 'ARTH') have participated in the terraced rice field ownership program in the Nagasaka area, based on the 'Collaboration Agreement on Sustainable Regional Development Centered on Terraced Rice Fields' signed on February 3, 2026. Additionally, they held a groundbreaking ceremony for 'WEAZER,' a sustainable accommodation facility centered on terraced rice fields and agriculture, scheduled to open in spring 2027. Yamatane is advancing initiatives for terraced field conservation with economic rationality, aiming to become 'the company that protects terraced rice fields in Japan more than any other.'

▲ May 23, 2026 (Sat) at Nagasaka Terraced Rice Fields　　▲ June 17, 2026 (Wed) at the same site

1. Purpose

The 'Nagasaka Terraced Rice Fields,' located in a mountainous region of Himi City, are blessed with rich natural scenery, including panoramic views of the Tateyama mountain range across the sea. They have been designated as a 'Connecting Terraced Rice Field Heritage' by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. For 28 years, initiatives such as the terraced rice field ownership program have promoted regional charm and revitalization. However, challenges related to regional sustainability have intensified due to a declining and aging agricultural workforce.

Now, Yamatane and ARTH are officially launching regional revitalization initiatives under the aforementioned agreement. They have joined the Nagasaka terraced rice field ownership program and held a groundbreaking ceremony for 'WEAZER,' a sustainable accommodation facility with terraced rice fields and agriculture as its key concept. Representatives from Himi City (Mayor: Masahiro Kikuchi), the Nagasaka district (District Chief: Takashi Fujii), and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (President and CEO: Akihiro Fukudome, hereinafter 'SMBC')—all signatories to the agreement—attended the ceremony alongside Yamatane and ARTH.

2. Initiative Details

Yamatane and ARTH will construct and operate an accommodation facility on idle farmland in the Nagasaka area using 'WEAZER (Weather),' the world's first off-grid residential module capable of self-sustaining electricity and water through natural resources like sunlight and rainwater, providing habitable spaces even in areas without infrastructure. The facility aims to allow visitors to experience local agriculture, history, and culture while serving as a new hub for promoting the charm of Nagasaka and Himi City. This fully energy self-sufficient accommodation facility, centered on terraced rice fields and agriculture, marks Japan's first such initiative.

Additionally, both companies will contribute to regional revitalization by becoming members of the 28-year-old terraced rice field ownership program.

<About WEAZER (Weather)>

Developed by ARTH, WEAZER is a residential module that self-sustains electricity and water using natural resources such as sunlight and rainwater, enabling comfortable living without existing infrastructure like power lines or water supply systems. It can be installed in mountainous or coastal areas where conventional infrastructure development is difficult, without imposing environmental burdens such as wastewater discharge on the local area, thus enabling coexistence with nature. Leveraging its ability to self-supply electricity and water during infrastructure disruptions caused by disasters, WEAZER is expected to contribute to enhancing regional resilience, including infrastructure recovery and reconstruction following the Noto Peninsula earthquake.