Cells, Developer of Software for Social Insurance Consultants, Revives Nearly Abandoned Cherry Orchard in Yamanashi

Cells Corporation (headquartered in Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture; CEO: Masaya Kato), a developer and distributor of software for social insurance consultants, has collaborated with multiple software vendors to revive a cherry orchard in Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture, where cultivation had become unsustainable. After performing agricultural tasks such as mowing and pollination, the team successfully harvested cherries in June 2026. The company also organized a two-day "cherry-picking tour," creating an opportunity for participants to refresh themselves through digital detox by stepping away from their daily digital environments.

Background — A Cherry Orchard in Yamanashi Losing Its Keepers

The project took place in Makio-cho, Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture. This orchard, which had produced delicious cherries for many years, faced difficulties in continuing cultivation due to the aging and health issues of the owner, as well as a lack of successors.

If left unattended, this carefully nurtured orchard would have been lost. Motivated by a request from an acquaintance close to the owner's family, the "Cherry Revival Project (provisional name)" was launched with the hope of somehow preserving this land.

For the past two years, the orchard had been largely untended. However, with proper care, it still held the potential to bear fruit, making revival a realistic possibility.

Initiative — IT Companies, Newcomers to Agriculture, Take on Farm Work

Despite being software vendors with no prior connection to agriculture, our company, together with other software firms, visited the orchard and participated in farming activities.

One of the most critical tasks was "pollination." Cherry trees require precise timing from bloom to harvest, and the optimal window for pollination lasts only about one week. While natural pollination occurs, careful manual intervention significantly improves fruit yield and flavor. The main variety cultivated, "Sato Nishiki," is known to produce poor fruit when grown alone; it requires cross-pollination with other varieties such as "Takasago" to yield high-quality cherries.

Within this limited timeframe, core team members conducted intensive pollination and mowing in preparation for harvest. Though initially unfamiliar with farming, participants felt a sense of fulfillment from the experience of creating food from scratch. By early June 2026, the orchard successfully bore fruit and was harvested.

Two-Day "Cherry-Picking Tour" — A Space for Digital Detox and Team Building

Aligned with the harvest season, the company organized a two-day "cherry-picking tour." Surrounded by nature with no large buildings nearby, the area offered a pristine, refreshing environment. For employees accustomed to working with PCs and smartphones daily, the chance to touch soil and move their bodies provided an unexpectedly rejuvenating experience.

Beyond farm work, the tour incorporated local tourism experiences, serving as a space for team members to reflect on and celebrate their annual efforts. From the perspective of corporate well-being and team engagement—both increasingly important to businesses today—this initiative offered valuable insights.

Comment from CEO Masaya Kato

"Although this was my first experience with farming, I truly felt that creating food from scratch is a rewarding endeavor. Honestly, I wish I had experienced this earlier.

With cherries, the week following bloom is crucial. The amount of human care provided during this short period greatly affects both taste and quality. Imagining that every flower might one day become fruit gives this work a deeply inspiring, almost dreamlike quality.

We are a company that develops software for social insurance consultants—essentially unrelated to agriculture. Yet, we managed to revive an orchard that would have otherwise been lost. Through this experience, we are exploring new ways IT companies can engage with agriculture, potentially shaping future business developments."

Future Outlook

We intend to develop this initiative not as a one-off event, but as an ongoing effort connecting regional agriculture with corporate activities. Leveraging the unique perspectives and systems of IT companies, we aim to explore new possibilities that address issues of abandoned farmland, enhance corporate well-being programs, and strengthen community engagement.

Company Overview

Company Name: Cells Corporation

Representative: CEO Masaya Kato

Head Office: 190 Yasuda-cho, Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture 485-0014 (Komaki Head Office)

Established: June 1998

Business: Development, sales, and support of HR and labor-related software for social insurance consultant offices, including "Daicho," "Cells Kyuyo," "Saiteki Kyuyo Cloud," and "FORROU."

Corporate Website: https://www.cells.co.jp/