Harvest Experience 2025!
In Sasayama, autumn means it's time for the black soybean season!
Harvest experiences are held in various places, and during this time, the city of Sasayama experiences significant traffic congestion, making it a challenging season for locals. 😅
However, we hold a harvest event every year for our friends who look forward to eating black soybean edamame!
Every year, there's a set date for the black soybean season to be opened, which brings in a rush of people. This year, perhaps due to the crazy heat, that date was delayed by about five days. Since we continued to host homestays, I was unsure when to schedule the event. I needed to decide soon, as participants' schedules should be planned and if the schedule gets delayed, the soybeans will become hard. (By the way, edamame is the growth stage of black beans that we eat during the New Year, and if left in the field, they will eventually mature into black beans.)
Finally I set the date for the 19th and started preparations. This time, participants are coming from various regions in Hyogo prefecture, from Kami-cho in the north, known for its crabs, to Awaji Island in the south. I also had heard that the mother of an ALT, whose contract will end next summer, was visiting and would join us. Also, due to lunch arrangements, we needed to start harvesting early in the morning, so the Awaji team arrived the night before.
Unfortunately, on the day of the event, we were met with rain. We managed to have the edamame harvesting experience in a sheltered workspace with the soybean plants that our neighbor farmers had brought the day before. After that, we all went to the buffet restaurant at the Kuromame-no-Yakata. (Participants had frequently requested this, but we had always been unable to go because the event period coincided with the busy season.)
After lunch, we decided to disband the group for the day, but since the Kasuga Shrine was holding its autumn festival and the morning rain had stopped, those who were interested made their way there. It was my first time going during the day time, and since the evening festival was canceled, we could see many floats and even a children's mikoshi. For many participants, it was their first experience, and they seemed very interested.
Although the number of participants this time was small, I look forward to seeing everyone at the next event!
Next, it will probably be… miso making? I'm excited! 🥰