Blessed to be growing quickly in clear waters, the wasabi marsh of Hadano city/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1205010005/

May 1, 2012

A wasabi marsh in Bodai, Hadano City

In Bodai, Hadano City, tea farmer Isamu Yamaguchi (54) cultivates wasabi in his marsh. The leaves can be seen growing out of the bright blue waters of the 7 are (700 square meter) marsh, stopping at a stone wall.

The name of Yamaguchi's store is Wasabiya. The family has been farming since the first half of the Meiji era. Because of the main river current strenuously flowing into the wasabi marsh, it was in the process of being destroyed. However, 15-16 years prior, the family restored the old scenery by erecting a stone wall to guard against the stream.

The period for this harvest was moved up, as river crabs were thought to have damaged the crops and subsequently the progress at which they grew. At the beginning of spring, a larger variety of seeds were planted, hopefully ready to be harvested after next year’s spring. Yamaguchi commented "If possible, I would like to offer scenery of the beautiful water as a way of enhancing the image of Hadano city."

Original text:

清流の恵みすくすくと、秦野のワサビ沢/神奈川

2012年5月1日

秦野市菩提のワサビ沢

秦野市菩提、茶農家山口勇さん（54）のワサビ沢で、ワサビの栽培が行われている。石垣で区切られた７アールの沢には青々とした葉が育っている。

山口家の屋号は「わさびや」。明治前半から栽培を始めたとされている。主流の茶栽培に本腰を入れたため、ワサビ沢は荒廃しつつあった。15、16年前、家族でかつての風景を取り戻そうと、石垣整備などに取り組んだ。

一定の収穫を上げる時期もあったが、サワガニなどの食害で思うように生育は進んでいない。この春先には種類を増やし苗を植え、来春以降の収穫を待ち望んでいる。山口さんは「水がきれいな秦野のイメージアップに貢献できれば」と話している。