'Growing crops doesn't pay': Shrinking farming population sparks rally in east Japan

On November 1st, roughly 350 individuals gathered for a farmers' rally and tractor demonstration in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. The event, dubbed the "Reiwa-era farmers' uprising," aimed to advocate for measures that would safeguard Japan's food and agriculture sector. This protest unfolded as the number of farmers dwindles due to an aging populace and escalating production expenses.

The rally was orchestrated by an executive committee comprising producers and other stakeholders, including agricultural cooperatives and consumer groups. The movement originated in Tokyo in March 2025, and since then, it has expanded nationwide.

Yoshiro Wakui, co-chair of the executive committee and an organic farmer, addressed the gathering, expressing deep concern over the annual loss of farmers. Wakui lamented that 3,000 farmers leave the profession yearly, citing the inability to generate sufficient income. He emphasized the critical need for stable farm earnings to ensure the continued consumption of locally produced food.

Yutaka Akiyama, the other co-chair and head of JA Hitachi, touched upon the possibility of importing fresh potatoes from the United States. Akiyama staunchly opposed such imports, stating, "I don't want to have our children eating curry and rice made with imported potatoes. We will protect Japanese agriculture and food supplies at all costs."

Witnesses recounted the aftermath of the event, recounting the sight of 28 tractors and light trucks, led by farmers carrying banners, marching for about 3 kilometers around Tsukuba Station. Kazumi Kamaka, a 73-year-old rice and vegetable farmer, and his 73-year-old wife Michie, shared their struggles. The Kamakas' fields were inundated with torrential rains and a typhoon in September, resulting in damage and the loss of their carrot seedlings.

Additionally, rice prices plummeted to roughly one-third of their value from the previous year. Kazumi Kamaka remarked, "From a farmer's perspective, last year's rice prices were appropriate. Growing crops doesn't pay, so no one is going into farming."

The demonstration also saw participation from consumers, including a 45-year-old acupuncturist and moxibustion practitioner who joined to grasp a better understanding of the predicament faced by farmers. She expressed hope that the message would reach other consumers as well.