How to find a paddy farmer

[Streetsider]

Hey altogether.

I'm planing to go to Japan next spring. Is there any possibility to met japanese paddy farmer's there, who are able to speak English? Or is there any contact point, where i can address myself? Because i want to write an article about a paddy farmer. But I think, it could be very difficult, to find one on my own account.

Greetings

[undrentide]

I checked the websites of Ministry of Agriculture and Japanese farmer's union but they have information only in Japanese languages.
If I were you, I would contact the city hall (local government) of the city I'm going to visit.
Which part of Japan are you going to visit?

[Goldiegirl]

My father-in-law in Niigata prefecture is a rice farmer, along with other fruits and veggies. He can't speak English, but perhaps he would know someone you could talk to. I'll have my husband ask him for you! :)

[Streetsider]

ah ok. thanks. i'm going to visit japan for a month or so. i thought about tokio, matsumoto, nagoya, region kyoto and fukuoka. but i can arrange my itinerary;-)

hey goldiegirl. thats very nice, thanks a lot for your efforts! i'm very curious about your answer! it's also no problem, if the farmer is not only a rice farmer. the main thing is, that he can speak english (or german), because i'm not able to speak the national language yet;-)

[undrentide]

ah ok. thanks. i'm going to visit japan for a month or so. i thought about tokio, matsumoto, nagoya, region kyoto and fukuoka. but i can arrange my itinerary;-)

Here are contact details of the government/municipality of the places you're planning to visit. I'd like to suggest to contact them and ask if they can help you to find/meet the rice farmers.

Official website of Matsumoto-shi (Matsumoto city)
http://www.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/english/Internationalcenter/index.html
At the very bottom of the page you'll find the contact details for their Public Information & International Liaison Division.

I cannot find such information for Nagoya city or Aichi prefecture (where Nagoya is located), but here's the Front Desk number for Aichi prefecture.
As it is shown on the English version page, I assume they speak English as well.
Aichi Prefectural Government Office
1-2-3 San-no-maru, Naka-ku, Nagoya City 460-8501
Phone: 052-961-2111 (Front desk) http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/en/03/03-01.html
Website of Kyoto prefecture.
(Contact details for Kyoto Tourist Information.)

http://www.fukuoka-tourism.net/e/index.html
Fukuoka Tourist Information
(Contact details at the very bottom)