The beautiful valley of Myoko Kogen is nestled between two mountain ranges that shield it from strong winds, common on the coast of the Japanese sea. This haven is home to many farms.  Niigata is, of course, famous for its delicious rice. However, its fertile soils also support various fruits and vegetables, such as Kurosaki tea beans   (黒崎茶豆), Yairo watermelons (八色スイカ), Izumi no taro (五泉の里芋), or Myoko Kogen tomatoes (妙高高原トマト). Hideyuki Tamura (田村英幸) has been running his family farm in Myoko for more than 20 years. He grows an array of vegetables, yet eggplant flourishes the best in the hot and humid climate of Niigata. All the vegetables grown on … Continue reading Life of a farmer : Hideyuki Tamura