As part of Kyoto Co-op’s social program for nurturing the younger generation, the co-op organized rice planting in the rice terraces of Sodeshi - Kyotango, facing the sea of Japan, for school children on May 14, 2016. About 90 people including co-op members and staff participated in this event.

Rice fields of Sodeshi is among the best 100 selected terraced rice fields in Japan. However, in recent years, as a result of depopulation and the aging of the region cultivation of the rice fields have been abandoned.

In order to protect the rice terraces of Sodeshi, and the beautiful landscape, Kyoto Co-op has signed an agreement with local Sodeshi rice terraces preservation society through rice planting and harvesting activities.

Last year the co-op organized the planting of koshihikari (brand name of a Japanese rice) in this rice field which was harvested and sold through home delivery in this March. 

Kyoto Co-op with the aim to protect the landscape of the beautiful rice terraces will continue this effort in the future.