Seventh Consecutive Year of Participation in the Rice Paddy Owner Program

NOK Corporation (Headquarters: Shibadaimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, Group Chief Executive Officer: Masao Tsuru; hereinafter “NOK”) has been involved with the Rice Paddy Owner Program, organized by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Kumamoto Groundwater Foundation, for seven consecutive years as part of its efforts to conserve local groundwater resources. On Saturday, October 11, 2025, a total of 50 employees and family members from the NOK Kumamoto Plant (Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture) joined local producers in harvesting rice from a paddy located in Ozu Town, Kikuchi District, where they had planted seedlings earlier in June.

The Rice Paddy Owner Program is a groundwater conservation initiative that involves producers who own paddies in groundwater recharge1 areas collaborating with participating companies and organizations through ownership agreements. By jointly cultivating rice, participants help store water in the paddies, allowing it to naturally infiltrate into the soil and promote groundwater recharge. Each year, the NOK Kumamoto Plant takes ownership of a 737 m² rice paddy in Ozu Town and assists local producers with a portion of the farming work. A portion of this year’s harvest will be donated to a food bank in Kumamoto City as well as to a children’s cafeteria (Kodomo Shokudo) operated by the Kumamoto Volters, a professional basketball team with which NOK has an official partnership agreement. Around November, a Groundwater Recharge Certificate will be issued, indicating the volume of groundwater replenished through rice cultivation. The estimated groundwater recharge volume for this year is approximately 4,500 tons (4,500 m³), equivalent to last year’s result.

Groundwater Recharge: The process by which rainwater and other sources seep into the ground and are stored as groundwater within aquifers.
Recharge Area: Land areas such as fields and forests where water can easily penetrate the ground.

Participation in the Rice Paddy Owner Program Harvest

Each year, participants in the rice cultivation experience are invited from among NOK Kumamoto Plant employees and their families. This year, 55 people took part in the rice planting in June, and 50 joined the harvest in October.

The harvest took place under clear autumn skies. During the opening ceremony, Hitomi Koga, Assistant Section Chief, Project Department, Kumamoto Groundwater Foundation, expressed gratitude to participants who had taken part during the past six years and emphasized the importance of groundwater conservation and the role of rice paddies, saying: “Experiencing the full cycle from planting to harvesting over the course of a year provides valuable insight into the importance of protecting Kumamoto’s groundwater and the richness of agricultural life. We deeply appreciate NOK’s continued participation over the years, as these ongoing efforts help safeguard our region’s water and soil.”

After learning from local producers how to handle sickles and cut the stalks, participants harvested rice for about an hour, also experiencing the threshing process. Many had taken part in the planting earlier in the year and were eagerly anticipating this day, looking with satisfaction at the golden heads of rice swaying in the field. For many families, it was also a chance for children to connect with nature and experience the abundance of the local environment. After the harvest, participants relaxed while enjoying the rural scenery and conversations with local producers, spending a fulfilling autumn day together.
　　　　

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Comments from Participants

Satoshi Horie
Production Planning Section, Global Business Strategy Department, Precision Moldings & O‐Rings Division, NOK Kumamoto Plant
“I join the event every year with my first-grade child. This time, I could really see how much they’ve grown, using the sickle much more skillfully than last year. It’s become a family tradition for us, a chance to appreciate the blessings of both groundwater and food through rice planting and harvesting. We’re already looking forward to next year.”

Shigenori Uchiyanagi
Production Control Section, Global Business Strategy Department, Precision Moldings & O‐Rings Division, NOK Kumamoto Plant
“It was our first time harvesting rice, and it turned out to be a truly valuable experience. My five-year-old son was completely absorbed in cutting the rice. Through this event, he learned a lot about groundwater, rice, and the joy of working with nature. He’s already asking, ‘When’s the next one?’”

Sota Muroya
Administration Section, Administration Department, Precision Moldings & O‐Rings Division, NOK Kumamoto Plant
“This was my first time joining the harvest, and I was impressed by how smoothly the experienced employees worked. Watching them cut rice so quickly made me realize how challenging agriculture really is. It was a precious opportunity to learn how rice paddies contribute to groundwater conservation and to appreciate nature and farming from a new perspective.”

Sustainability Activities through the Rice Paddy Owner Program

The NOK Group uses high-quality water in its manufacturing processes. The NOK Kumamoto Plant, located in Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture, is situated in a region blessed with abundant water resources. The water used for producing seal products, which are essential components in manufacturing, is drawn from local groundwater sources and used as industrial water. 

In Kumamoto Prefecture, approximately 80% of tap water comes from groundwater, making it an essential resource that supports both daily life and industry. To help preserve this valuable resource, the NOK Kumamoto Plant has long participated in local groundwater conservation efforts, including the cleaning of lakes and ponds. In recent years, however, the region has seen an increase in both the number of factories that consume water and the amount of household water use due to population growth. As a result, active groundwater conservation has become an increasingly important local issue. 

To contribute to these efforts, NOK has supported the Rice Paddy Owner Program since 2019. By collaborating with local producers who share the benefits of water, the company helps make effective use of fallow rice fields, maintains rice paddies that function as natural groundwater recharge areas, and supports rice production, a key local industry. These efforts also contribute to addressing regional issues, such as the shortage of agricultural workers, and help preserve the beautiful satoyama landscape of Aso. 

In the future, the NOK Kumamoto Plant will continue working together with local governments, environmental organizations, and community members to conserve groundwater.

Overview of the Rice Paddy Owner Program Harvest Event Participated in by NOK Kumamoto Plant

・Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
・Location: Rice paddies in the Maki area, Ozu Town, Kikuchi District, Kumamoto Prefecture
・Participants: 50 employees of NOK Kumamoto Plant and their family members

About the Kumamoto Groundwater Foundation’s Rice Paddy Owner Program

・Organizer: Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, Kumamoto Groundwater Foundation
・Program Overview: An initiative that promotes the conservation of rice paddies and groundwater through rice cultivation. Companies and organizations participate as owners, joining in activities such as rice planting and harvesting. After the harvest, participants receive rice corresponding to the cultivated area, along with a Groundwater Recharge Certificate that indicates the amount of groundwater replenished through the rice-growing process.

Environmental and Community Contributions by NOK Kumamoto Plant

The NOK Kumamoto Plant actively engages in local environmental conservation activities, including participation in water quality initiatives such as the cleaning of Lake Ezu organized by the Kumamoto Environmental Conservation Council. In March next year, the plant plans to take part in an awareness campaign in collaboration with the professional basketball team Kumamoto Volters.
The plant is also involved in conserving forests and grasslands that nurture water resources, with employees volunteering in controlled burns organized by the Genya Kumiai. In addition, the plant supports various local conservation organizations and programs, including the Aso Grassland Supporter Program, the Aso Green Stock Foundation, and the Ministry of the Environment’s Nature Restoration Project, working together with local governments and citizens to protect the natural environment.

・Lake Ezu Cleanup (around November): Conducted in partnership with the Kumamoto Environmental Conservation Council to protect groundwater resources.
・Rice Donations via Food Bank Kumamoto (around November): A portion of rice harvested through the Rice Paddy Owner Program is donated to those in need.
・Donations to Children’s Cafeterias Operated by the Kumamoto Volters (from 2024, around November): Rice harvested through the Rice Paddy Owner Program is provided to local children’s cafeterias.
・Participation in the “Water Festival” Home Game of the Kumamoto Volters (planned for March 2026): An event aimed at raising awareness of groundwater conservation.
・Controlled Burns Organized by the Genya Kumiai (every February or March): Volunteer participation to help preserve Aso’s grasslands and biodiversity.
・Certified Member of the Aso Grassland Supporter Program (since 2022): Promoting the conservation of Aso’s grasslands.
・Supporting Organizations: Member of the Aso Green Stock Foundation and the Ministry of the Environment’s Nature Restoration Project.