Qí wù lùn（斉物論）≒ A metaphor for the unclear distinction between dreams and reality, and the inability to transcend that distinction. All things in heaven and earth are equal, there is no difference between them, so you should not measure others by your own standards.
【Product name】
Narita Kosui pears
【Type】
Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm.f.) Nakai var. culta (Makino) Nakai
【Production area】
Narita City, Chiba Prefecture
【Origin of name】
I heard that the name was taken from the parent varieties “Kikusui Pear” and “Wase Kozo Pear”.
【Features】
On June 9, 2022, the Narita International Airport Company carried out turtle control work from April 20 to prevent turtles living in ponds around Narita Airport (Narita City, Chiba Prefecture) from invading the runway. Release. It seems that the policy is to continue the control work about once a week until the end of October. It is dangerous if a turtle goes up the runway, which may affect the regular operation of the airplane or get caught in the engine of the aircraft and cause an accident. There have been 11 cases of turtles invading the runway since 2013. Two cases were confirmed this year on the taxiway near the runway, but it seems that there was no effect on the operation. The roots of pears in Chiba Prefecture date back to the Edo period. It is said that “Nashi pear” cultivation began in the prefecture in 1769 during the Edo period, when Zenroku KAWAKAMI worked on it in the Yawata region (currently the Yawata district of Ichikawa city). Born in the Yawata region in 1742, Zenroku preferred books to children and was scholarly. I was enthusiastic about the breeding industry and was looking for what kind of crops would be suitable for the Yawata region: After seeing high-quality Nashi pear cultivation around Ogaki in Mino Province, he learned the technique and brought back the branches and spread them to the Yawata region; Born in Yawata in 1742, Zenroku came up with the idea of pear cultivation for Edo citizens, visited the region of Owari Mino where pear cultivation is popular, investigated, spread pear cultivation in Yawata, and made the market crowded as “Yawata Pear”. The pears harvested in the Yawata region were transported to Edo and were touted as luxury goods. For this reason, the production area expanded rapidly, and it is estimated that it became the largest pear production area in the Kanto region at the end of Tokugawa. In the era of the 10th Tokugawa Shogun Ieji, when Okitsugu TANUMA became an old man through a side servant and wielded power. Tanuma used the financial resources of the merchants to reclaim Inba-numa and Teganuma (both in the lower reaches of the Tone River). Exhibitor: Ayumi of Fruit Trees in Chiba Prefecture (published by the Federation of Fruit Tree Associations in Chiba Prefecture) “Edo Famous Places” (Tenpo 5th year, 1834). The prefecture is a suitable land for pear cultivation, which is blessed with soil and weather conditions, and boasts the largest cultivation area, yield, and output in Japan. (2018) The prefecture is a suitable place for pear cultivation, which is blessed with soil and weather conditions. Due to the warm climate surrounded by the sea on three sides, the flowers bloom at the earliest time in the Kanto region, and the harvest time is also early. The main variety, Kosui Pear, has been produced in various regions in the prefecture in early August, which is the middle of summer, and the time when it is hot and you want to eat pears overlaps with the peak harvest period, which is the most delicious. Pears have been said to be delicious. In addition, the volcanic ash soil, which is abundant in the prefecture, is suitable for pear cultivation because it has a strong ability to hold fertilizer and has good drainage, and the tree grows healthy and healthy. It is said that such trees will produce delicious fruits. The fruits also grow in plenty of sunlight. Since it belongs to the Kanto production area and is close to the consumption area, customer feedback can be heard immediately. Producers in Chiba prefecture understand well that consumers want delicious pears. In addition, it is possible to deliver freshly harvested pears. Furthermore, compared to remote production areas, it is possible to keep the trees in a state close to ripe, so it seems that pears with good taste can be harvested. In the traditional production area of Chiba prefecture, which has continued since the Edo period, there are many years of accumulated technology for making delicious pears. And even now, producers are working hard to improve their skills in order to make more delicious pears. For example, soil preparation cannot be done overnight. Over the years, organic matter such as compost has been applied to the pear garden to create soil where pear trees can grow soundly. Healthy trees are not only resistant to disease, but also produce delicious fruits. In addition, pruning work, fertilizer method, all are said to be done with an emphasis on taste. And we harvest the most delicious time and deliver it to consumers. In addition, in each production area of the prefecture, pesticides are used properly, and not only the history of pesticide application is recorded, but also the entire pear garden is covered with a fine mesh net to prevent the invasion of pests, and female pests called pheromones. We produce delicious pears by making various efforts such as filling the pear garden with odors to prevent mating and preventing the outbreak of pests. “Narita” is a core city located in the northern center of Chiba prefecture. The north borders Ibaraki Prefecture across the Tone River, which finally flows, the west borders Imba Swap, which is designated as a prefectural natural park, and the east borders Katori City. The Nekona River runs to the west of the city, and the Daisuga River runs to the east. Surrounding them is a vast paddy field and a fertile field area on the Hokuso Plateau. Agricultural land development was difficult on plateaus that were not blessed with water, and it was almost untouched until the Middle Ages. During the Edo period, when the war was over and Newly reclaimed rice field development was flourishing nationwide, the shogunate finally led the development of this plateau. However, it seems that only a small part of the land became farmland, and most of the plateau was used as “Maki”, which was set up in the Edo period, that is, a ranch for free-ranging horses. Full-scale cultivating will take place after the beginning of the Meiji era, when samurai vocational training for samurai who lost their jobs and urgent development to increase food production began. However, there was no water on the plateau, and there were no trees that blocked the wind, and above all, the untouched soil was hard. The conditions were too harsh for the samurai who were not accustomed to farming to clear the land. It is said that at the beginning of the reclamation, the pioneers were separated and fled. However, with the opening of the Sobu Railway in what is now Yachimata City in 1897, new pioneers from all over the country began to gather on the Kitaso Plateau. This included many farmers with a wealth of experience. Since then, the reclamation of the Hokuso Plateau has progressed rapidly, and various crops have been planted in vast fields. At the beginning of the reclamation, wheat and buckwheat were planted in the fields as food for the pioneers themselves. Wheat and buckwheat are resistant to drought and grow on thin lands, making them ideal for waterless settlements. Similarly, millet and millet were planted because they are resistant to drought. It seems that the yield of all crops did not increase so much in the fields without fertilizer that had just been cultivated, but wheat continued to be cultivated as a major crop from the Taisho era to the Showa era. Also, at the beginning, there was no windbreak on the plateau, and the pioneers were troubled by the strong winds blowing and the dust blown by the winds. Pioneers will also plant tea around the fields, which doubles as a windbreak. Since then, tea production has flourished, and at one point it has grown to the point where it was exported overseas, but from the middle of the Meiji era to the Taisho era, prices continued to fall and slumped. Another name for Shimosa, which now refers to the northern part of the prefecture. Most of this area is located on a vast plateau called the Hokuso Plateau (Shimousa Plateau), and especially vegetable cultivation boasts one of the highest production in the country, and it serves as a food supply base to the adjacent metropolitan area. It plays an important role. The Hokuso Central Agricultural and Water Conservation Project is being carried out in the central part of this plateau, in a district that spans Chiba City, Narita City, Sakura City, Togane City, Yachimata City, Tomisato City, and Sammu City. The prefecture is characterized by a flat terrain as a whole, and is a prefecture without mountains, which is rare in Japan. There are many areas with an altitude of 20 to 50 m, and the terrain is almost flat. However, this plateau is carved with a number of elongated valleys extending from the periphery, forming a lower lowland. There is no river like a river on the current plateau, but it is speculated that the rainwater that fell on the plateau became a stream in ancient times, and it took many years to scrape the plateau and form a valley. The business district includes the Kashima River, which flows into Imba-numa, the Takasaki River, which is a tributary of the Kashima River, and the Nekona River, which flows into the Tone River. Both are small rivers, but these rivers and their tributaries seem to have carved complex valleys into the plateau. The soil that covers the plateau is volcanic ash soil called the Kanto loam layer. It was carried tens of thousands of years ago when the mountains of Mt. Fuji and Hakone erupted. Because the particles are fine, they fly up in the wind when they dry. In addition, volcanic ash soil is generally easy for water to pass through and is not suitable for paddy fields. Coupled with the lack of rivers, the plateau was in a difficult condition for development. On the other hand, the valley carved on the plateau is an alluvial plain formed by small rivers, and the soil is fertile. Due to the abundance of streams and springs that flow along the edge of the plateau, Yatsuda has been built and rice cultivation has been practiced since ancient times. The prefecture facing the Pacific Ocean is affected by the Kuroshio Current (warm current), so it has a relatively warm climate. The plateau is generally warm, but the business district is located in the central part, which does not face the sea, so it seems to have the characteristic of a so-called inland climate, where the temperature difference between winter and summer is large. The average annual rainfall is 1,355 mm, which is less than the average value in Japan (about 1,700 mm). In winter, there is little rain and it is dry, and the seasonal wind from the west is strong, so the dust in the Kanto loam layer often rolls up. The plateau, which has few obstacles to the wind, was also plagued by wind damage. The hills from the north to the east are dotted with industrial parks and golf courses, and to the south is Narita International Airport, the gateway to Japan's sky. In addition, the Narita district, which is the center of the city, prospers as the gate town of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, which has a history of more than 1000 years, and is crowded with many worshipers every year. The city is dotted with many other temples and shrines, and is a city that blends traditional and international appearances surrounded by abundant water and greenery. Although it is located in the metropolitan area, it is actually the second largest agricultural and agricultural area after Hokkaido. Producers listen directly to consumers' requests and work hard to produce crops to meet those needs, and consumers can eat locally sourced, safe, fresh and high-quality ingredients. In this way, the biggest feature is that producers and consumers are in close contact with each other. Both producers and consumers are refining each other to grow better crops. It is unique to Narita that you can experience the idyllic rural scenery of rice fields and fields just a short distance away from residential areas and commercial areas. A masterpiece of farmers who work hard to grow rice: The Hokuso Plateau, which is blessed with fertile soil, has rice fields as far as the eye can see, and rice is cultivated. When you think of rice that is famous nationwide, you can think of Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata, and Niigata, but as you can see from the window when you take off and land at Narita Airport by plane, this area is actually a big one. It is a rice-growing area. The rice harvested in Narita, which is located in the middle of the large rice-growing area across the Tone River, is just a word of deliciousness. It is a masterpiece that farmers are proud of, working hard to make delicious rice. The rice harvested in the city is varieties such as “Koshihikari Rice” and “Fusakogane Rice”, but the rice that is carefully selected by the region and the group from soil preparation to harvesting is called brand rice. Ino Kabuki rice: Cultivated in the Daiei district. The Ino Kabuki Rice Study Group was established in 2003 to brand the rice produced in the former Daieicho, and has been on sale since 2004. The name was given to show the pride of the region along with the revival of the local performing art “Ino Kabuki” that has been handed down from the Genroku era in the Ino district of Narita city, which is the production area. The variety is Koshihikari, which is low in protein and has a wonderful sweetness, carefully selected only from high-quality rice with large grains of 1.9 mm or more and thorough cultivation management. Ibaraki Prefecture is famous for producing lotus roots, but the Shimousa district of Narita City also makes lotus roots one of its special products. “Lotus roots” cultivated along the Tone River in the district are shipped in the open field and in the house throughout the year. The skin is white, the knots are thick and long, and it is crispy and crunchy, so it seems that it can be lightly boiled and eaten as a salad. Also, even if it is boiled or stir-fried, it is chewy and sticky and very delicious. Cream watermelon: Fresh with moderate sugar content and refreshing texture. Many people think of watermelons with red contents, but here in Narita, we produce watermelons with yellow contents in addition to red. The city cultivates red and yellow watermelons, which account for 90% of the total. It is said that it produces about 70,000 cases (about 900 tons) of cream watermelon annually. It is mainly cultivated in the Kuju and Tohyama districts such as Omuro and Toyomi, and boasts top-class production. The varieties are mainly “Kogane”, and some varieties called “Golden Kyokuto（Fine stripes are added to the bright green background, and the fruit is 8 to 12 kg. The flesh is a beautiful bright yellow, and the sugar content is inside and outside 12 degrees. The meat is tender and juicy, and has a good reputation for its refreshing taste. It will ripen properly within 52 days after fruit set. The grass is vigorous, the leaves are large, and the internodes are slightly clogged. Fruit set is good, but it is easily deformed at low nodes, so It seems that the 3rd and 4th flowers will settle all at once.）” are used. It is often cut and sold, and its moderate sugar content and refreshing texture are popular. Greenhouse items will be shipped from the end of Golden Week to early June, and open-air items will be shipped from mid-June to July. As for how to choose a delicious watermelon, I often hear that it makes a good sound when hit, but it is better to have it as a whole. Regardless of red or yellow, “thin stems” and “small navels at the bottom of watermelons” are considered good. Luxury pork with outstanding tenderness and juiciness: Diamond pork. High-quality pork with fine meat quality and outstanding softness and juiciness. It is not a hybrid, but a pure white pig called “Middle Yorkshire” is used for the breeding pig, and sweet potatoes are fed as food, so it is said that it melts in the mouth and has a sweet taste. The Middle Yorkshire breed is a pig breed that prevailed throughout the country in the 1950s. Around 1955, 90,000 farmers in the prefecture raised about 110,000 pigs, most of which were of Middle Yorkshire breed. At the 4th All Japan Pig Co-Promotion Society (Held in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture) in 1961, the Middle Yorkshire breed in Chiba Prefecture received the Honorary Award and received national attention as “Chiba York”. However, since the end of the Tokyo Olympics, it has been replaced by large pigs with high production efficiency nationwide, and in the 1990s, it was only kept as a hobby in the prefecture. From around 2004, the movement toward the revival of Chiba York has increased, and in the spring of 2008, seven pig farmers in Chiba Prefecture (Katori City, Narita City, Tomisato City, Choshi City) turned the phantom pig “Chiba York” into “Diamond Pork”. It goes without saying that it is rare that only 500 to 600 heads are shipped annually.
Pear producers listen directly to consumer demands and work hard to produce crops to meet those needs. Consumers can also enjoy locally sourced, safe, fresh, high-quality ingredients. In this way, the fact that producers and consumers are in close contact with each other seems to be the greatest characteristic of agriculture in Narita. It is clear that both producers and consumers are refining and growing better crops.
Chiba Prefecture is a suitable place for pear cultivation, which is blessed with soil and weather conditions. Narita is also included. Due to the warm climate surrounded by the sea on three sides, it seems that the flowers bloom at the earliest time in the Kanto region and the harvest time is also early. The main variety of "Kosui pear" has been produced in various areas in the prefecture in early August, which is the middle of summer, and the time when it is hot and you want to eat pears overlaps with the peak harvest period, so Chiba prefecture has been around for a long time. Pears have been said to be delicious. Volcanic ash soil, which is abundant in Chiba prefecture, is suitable for pear cultivation because it has strong fertilizer power and good drainage, and it seems that the tree grows healthy and healthy.
Proper use of pesticides, not only recording the history of pesticide application, but also covering the entire pear garden with a fine mesh net to prevent the invasion of pests, and filling the pest garden with the female odor of pests called pheromones, making it impossible to mate. In this way, we are producing delicious pears by making various efforts such as preventing the outbreak of pests. Generally, the sugar content is higher when the fruit is also exposed to light. The fruits become sweeter and sweeter in the early summer sun. Furthermore, compared to remote production areas, it is possible to keep the trees in a state close to ripe, so it seems that pears with good taste can be harvested.
