Sosuke Hanyu, a rice expert coming from a Japanese clan with 38 generations specializing in rice farming, is piloting a rice growing project in northern Vietnam, with rice varieties brought in from Japan.

From an initial cultivation area of only two hectares using Japanese rice varieties in 2023, Hanyu has expanded the trial to 150 hectares so far.

Every month, he sends engineers from Nagoya University and Tokyo University to Thai Binh Province, northern Vietnam to discuss issues related to the cultivation of the Japanese rice varieties in the province with local farmers.

These engineers will directly offer rice growers recommendations and solutions for dealing with issues caused by pests, unfavorable weather, and other adverse conditions.

According to Hanyu, an advantage of growing rice in Vietnam is that farmers can harvest two to three rice crops a year.

However, the weather in northern Vietnam, which is hot in the summer and very cold in the winter, poses a challenge for rice farming there.

Over the past trial period, the rice varieties Hanyu brought into Vietnam were not really suitable for the local soil, so both harvest yield and quality have yet to meet expectations.

Therefore, Hanyu stressed the importance of testing various rice types, especially the Japanese varieties, to identify the most suitable one for northern Vietnam.

The Japanese rice expert also pointed out a factor affecting the quality of Vietnamese rice: the common practice of storing grains at room temperature, which makes it susceptible to rats and insects.

Meanwhile in Japan, rice is always stored cold to maintain its freshness, he stated.

Hanyu expressed his intention to continue testing other Japanese rice varieties in Thai Binh to build a comprehensive database that will help experts analyze how different varieties adapt to local soil and climate conditions, ultimately determining the most suitable grains.

If the trial is a success, he will expand cultivation of the appropriate rice varieties to other localities.

Hanyu said the trial growing of Japanese rice varieties in Vietnam is among his activities to continuously follow his family tradition, marking the 100th anniversary of the establishment of his family’s company. 

Currently, no family in Japan has a rice growing tradition that is as long as his family's, Hanyu said, adding that many Japanese farmers have shifted from rice farming to other jobs.  

Hanyu always tries to renew himself and meet potential partners to seek new business opportunities.

He also hoped that Vietnam would be a destination that brings business opportunities as well as good luck to his family company.

Speaking of the future, Hanyu wishes to produce sake, a popular Japanese rice wine, from qualified rice harvested from fields growing Japanese rice varieties in Vietnam.

If successful, he will be the first Japanese person to have the opportunity to produce sake abroad.

He noted that in addition to high-quality rice, sake production requires a truly pure water source, not tap or filtered water.

He expressed hope that a suitable water source can be found in Vietnam in the future.

Hanyu has already taken finished rice from Japanese varieties grown in Vietnam back to Japan for trial sake production.

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