InakaRider comments

I thought that the article was light-hearted and fun overall.

And sctaber56, I'm in the same position that you were in, except for judo! I'm not the only female, but I am the only foreigner (and am blond), and the oldest student there (24)! It's pretty embarrassing to be flipped over by middle school aged boys, but luckly I've been able to keep up a fighting spirit!

I've never seen Sports Chanbara yet, but it sounds like fun!

There is a lot of talk about protein-based food in this article, but what about the vegetables and fruit?? JA seems to have a monopoly over everything.

I've heard a lot of complaints from farmers about the lack of young people who have any interest in farming at all. But I've also heard that it can be difficult for new people to establish themselves in farming here.

And from where I am in Hokkaido, the living conditions of farmers aren't so great either. A lot of the houses are falling apart and/or are in the middle of nowhere. It's hard to get around without a car, and life seems very isolated in the winter. I find that people who do well here are either the "lone wolf" type, or are really genki and like to go out and enjoy the mountains and rivers.

There is also a committee in my town that is trying to finds wives for the few young guys here who did get into farming. Apparently that is a big problem, and probably another deterent for young men to join agricluture here.

What kills me is that my town has beautiful parks and a nice little museum, but they never hold nay kind of social events apart from the annual asparagus festival or whatever. The town nevers holds new or exciting social events that would attract young poeple and make life here seem more city-like or exciting, such as gallery openings, or weekend beer gardens with music at the local park.

I worry that the lack of prefectural and town governments' ability to meet the social needs and living standards needs of young people in the inaka will keep drivng poeple to the cities instead of to the farms, thereby exacerbating the current food crisis.