The first organic eggs in Japan
”Kurofuji Farm”

No use of ”antibiotics”. Egg making following the example of Europe.

”I didn’t know that there are organic eggs.” Nakata seemed to be surprised. Shigenori Mukaiyama of ”Kurofuji Farm” said, ”No wonder. There are very few farms that raise poultry by organic farming to get organic eggs.”

Indeed. To get organic eggs, the chickens have to be raised organic. They must be raised in a near-natural environment without any use of antibiotics which are often used to fatten the chickens for meat. It is a lot of hard work.

Kurofuji Farm started organic poultry raising in 2002 according to the World Standard (IFOAM). ”Why did you start organic poultry raising?” ”I’ve looked around many countries, and especially in Europe, organic is already a standard. In Japan, a lot of chemicals are used to make good looking, good tasting products. But the real professional should be able to do it naturally,” so answered Mukaiyama to Nakata’s question.

Use of ”chicken droppings” is also a part of environmental cycle. ”Natural farming” to think environment as a ”whole”.

”In order to do that, not only the feedstuff but the environment is vital. There is the forest, and the water is provided from it. It’s not only the matter of chickens. We use the chicken droppings as manure and for other things, and that kind of circulation is necessary for natural farming.”

As Mukaiyama said, organic farming is not possible without considering the natural environment as a whole. The droppings of the livestock that ate safe feedstuff will become manure, and the manure enriches the soil to produce healthy feed, and the animals that eat the feed will grow healthy. That’s circulation.

In the future, originality will be necessary, also in farming.

Mukaiyama talked passionately about his farming, then he asked Nakata a question. ”Why did you choose to visit us? I am very glad that you chose to come and look at an agricultural business.”” I’ve travelled all over Japan with this project, and I noticed a great difference in the environment in each region. That leads to uniqueness, not only in culture and folklore, but ways of doing agriculture. I find it very interesting.”

”That’s true. Originality is so important for farmers to survive, now and in the future. Fermented food, for example, is a distinct feature in Japanese food culture So, I think we should concentrate more on such things.”

The organic eggs of Kurofuji Farm has a story that the environment and commitment create. . This may be the ”originality” Mukaiyama talked about.