Hoshino

Hoshino Village is located in the south area of Fukuoka Prefecture and the border with Oita prefecture, is a place where lush greenery landscape of agricultural mountain village still remains. They became a member of "The most beautiful village in Japan" Union in October 2009. “Masonry terraced rice fields” and “Hoshino Village’s brand 'Hoshino Green Tea'” has been registered as regional resources. The masonry of terraced rice fields that was elaborately made along the steep slopes is reminiscent of the huge mountain castle extend to the sky.

The history of terraced rice fields in Hoshino Village began in the Nara period and it is said that the reclamation progressed along with the population growth during the Gold Rush in the Edo period. The sophistication of masonry that accentuate the beauty of terraced rice fields of Hoshino, has been generated by experience that the farm folks themselves laid the stone and inherited the technology under the teachings of the stonewalling craftsmen called “Gakitsuki-san”.
The terraced rice fields in Hirouchi Uehara district representing Hoshino Village that has been designated as a “certification of terraced rice fields hundred election of Japan” is 425 sheets and 137 stages. The geometric patterns drawn by the combination of small and big stone produces a neat beauty. "Beauty of usage" born from daily activity is a landscape representing Japan. There are these rice terraces in the Hoshino Village more than 20 places.
And Hoshino brand number one is “Hoshino Green Tea” which is known for high-quality tea “Gyokuro”. The unprecedented catastrophe “the torrential rains in the Northern Kyushu” struck the land of tea. The rain that started falling in Hoshino Village in July 11, 2012, fell intensively in Hoshino from the afternoon of 13th till the morning of 14th. The rain that continued to fall for three days left a big scar in the beautiful village Hoshino.
More than three years have passed from that day. The collapsed masonry of terraced rice fields, the seawall of Hoshino River that raged, was repaired with brand-new concrete. Its whiteness is dazzling and painful. But some people struggle with trying to rebuild the rice terraces. They go laden with every single stone. Its center is a young force that was led to the star.

Interviewed in January, 2016