Urban Agriculture Day

What Is Urban Agriculture Day?

November 2nd is "Urban Agriculture Day" in Japan, established by the JA Tokyo Central Union (Tokyo Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives) and registered with the Japan Anniversary Association. It was created to raise awareness of agriculture within urban areas, following the enactment of the Basic Act for the Promotion of Urban Agriculture in 2015.

Why Was November 2nd Chosen?

Several reasons were layered into this single date:

• November falls during harvest season, a time when agricultural festivals are held across the country
• November 2nd is when the Tokyo Agricultural Festival is held, including a competition of agricultural and livestock products that decides the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award
• The date falls exactly 194 days after the Basic Act's enactment, and 194 forms a pun: 1+9=10, read as "to," and 4, read as "shi" — together sounding like "toshi" (city)

What Exactly Is Urban Agriculture?

Urban agriculture refers to farming carried out within cities or their surrounding areas. Beyond supplying fresh, local produce to consumers, it also plays a growing role in preserving green space, serving as open land for disaster prevention, and offering children hands-on farming and environmental education experiences.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Visit a local farm stand or agricultural festival near you
• Learn about hands-on farm plots or community gardens available in urban areas
• Cook a dish using locally grown vegetables
• Learn about the Basic Act for the Promotion of Urban Agriculture and the farmland near where you live

Taking Notice of the Farmland Right Nearby

Even within a city, fields and rice paddies quietly thrive closer than you might think. Let November 2nd be a day to notice the urban agriculture we so often overlook, and give thanks for the bounty that local farmland provides.