Today was the first planting day for the Oyama Senmaida season. The Sake Owners came out and it was nice to see the people I met at the tasting event last month.

I signed up to assist with the planting and was delighted to find that I really didn’t have to do much.

Kawasaki-san and I got 30 trays of rice seedlings from the greenhouse. I handed out planting instructions to the people waiting in line for registration.

Then we went out to the paddies and the owners stepped into the mud and got started. I pitched clumps of seedlings to the people in the paddy. I learned my limit of throwing accuracy and had many apologies to the guy at the end who I never once managed to reach properly. At least we all had a good laugh every time I tried.

It went quickly! 143 people can plant three tambo in 75 minutes. Everyone was cleaned up and enjoying their lunch by 11:30.

The newly planted fields look pretty. The Sake Owners return in June for grass cutting. It will be good to greet them again.

I snapped this photo of Iku-chan and Koya-san as we were getting ready and I love it.