[Eikei University] Fieldwork at 'Ini Rice Terraces' in Akiota Town, Hiroshima, on June 7 (Sun)

Eikei University will conduct a rice planting experience at the rice terraces in the Ini district of Akiota Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, on Sunday, June 7, 2026. This initiative is part of a 'fieldwork-based learning' program where students visit local areas to learn deeply about nature and human relationships, and it will be held for the fourth consecutive year. On the day, 10 students from Japan and abroad will participate, challenging themselves with traditional rice planting under the guidance of local farmers and volunteers. For students who usually study in urban areas, the sensation of mud under their feet and the manual work of planting seedlings is fresh and provides a valuable learning opportunity that cannot be obtained in a classroom. International students are also participating, making it an opportunity for cross-border exchange. In the beautiful Ini Rice Terraces, selected as one of the 'Top 100 Rice Terraces in Japan,' students will learn about 'sustainable agriculture and living' with a sense of reality under the guidance of local residents. After the rice planting, a field walk is also planned to visit former farmland areas that have been abandoned due to population decline and have returned to forest. It will be a time to see the changes in the land and the challenges the region faces with their own eyes, and to think about the reality and future of mountainous areas. The university will continue to foster students' inquisitive minds and diverse perspectives through such learning opportunities in collaboration with the community.