Ogata Village in Akita Prefecture was established in 1964 through the Hachirogata Land Reclamation Project, a government-backed reclamation project. In the vast Hachirogata reclaimed land, large-scale farming is practiced with the introduction of advanced agricultural techniques. Once the second-largest lake in Japan after Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, Hachirogata was transformed into vast farmland with the cooperation of the Netherlands, while leaving part of the lake surface intact. The reclaimed area is about 2.5 times the size of Tokyo's Yamanote Line loop, and agricultural management centers on rice cultivation, incorporating soybeans, wheat, onions, pumpkins, and flowers.
Ogata Village, born from the bottom of the lake, has fertile soil rich in amino acids and minerals. Because there are no tall buildings or mountains in the surrounding area, the fields receive abundant sunlight, and moderate winds blow in from the Sea of Japan. As a result, rice plants are less susceptible to disease, making it possible to produce healthy and robust crops without heavy reliance on pesticides or chemical fertilizers. By making the most of this blessed environment, the village aims not only to pursue economic efficiency but also to practice sustainable agriculture with consideration for reducing environmental impact.
Ogata Village is a small village with a population of about 3,000, but most of the residents are full-time farmers engaged in large-scale operations. Many of the farmers are young, and through study groups such as production associations, they conduct growth surveys and actively exchange opinions, continuously working toward the production of high-quality rice. Farming is a battle with the weather. In today’s world, where abnormal weather such as heavy rains and extreme heat is often reported, all of us at the production site keep consumers’ faces in mind and devote ourselves with sincerity and effort to delivering better products.
The carefully soaked sticky rice is
steamed all at once with high heat.
This process prepares the grains so that they can
easily absorb flavor all the way to the core.
The rice is evenly mixed with a savory broth and
steamed again at high temperature.
This second steaming locks the
rich flavor into every single grain.
To preserve the rich flavors of the ingredients,
they are added at the very end.
The rice and toppings are quickly combined, creating "Tagosaku / Tamokami Okowa"
with just the right firmness and a delightfully chewy texture!