Initiatives at the Yoko Hasebe Laboratory

The Endo and Goshomi districts, where SFC is located, have long been characterized as agricultural villages, and a rich lifestyle and culture of food and agriculture are still rooted in the area today. Taking advantage of these regional characteristics, we are working to realize a sustainable campus that coexists with the local community through the fields of food and agriculture.  

Endo and Goshomi Districts  

The Endo and Goshomi districts are located in the northern part of Fujisawa City and, despite being in a suburban area, have the characteristics of a traditional agricultural region. Even today, diverse farming activities such as rice, vegetables, fruit trees, livestock, and floriculture are practiced.

The Hasebe Laboratory aims to foster the relationship between the local community and the university by leveraging the unique characteristics of the Endo and Goshomi districts, undertaking initiatives from the perspectives of "food" and "agriculture." These initiatives are not independent but exist in an interconnected manner. Furthermore, these efforts are not limited to the campus; we aim to realize a sustainable campus that coexists with the community through daily interactions with local residents and collaborative projects.

Although 35 years have passed since its founding, the connection between SFC and the surrounding community has been weak.  

The Okomen Project, focusing on "agriculture"—one of the unique features of the Endo and Goshomi districts—has been engaged in rice farming initiatives within the community since 2022, with the goal of forming a new regional-academic community between the local area and the university.  

In fiscal year 2023, approximately 400 students participated in rice cultivation, carrying out all tasks by hand from spring tilling to autumn harvesting. Many participating students remarked that they had only ever commuted between the station and the university and were unaware of the natural richness of the area where the university is located, recognizing the local character for the first time through their involvement in rice farming.

In the fall semester of fiscal year 2023, we conducted a rice harvest with about 50 first-year students as part of a supplementary class for Fundamentals of Environmental Studies (GIGA), a course taken by new students in the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies. For these new students who are about to delve into various interests and specialized fields, experiencing the "environmental information" of the area surrounding the university firsthand not only broadens their perspectives but also lays the foundation for creating future relationships between various students and the community. From fiscal year 2024 onward, we will continue to create opportunities for diverse students to engage with the community through "agriculture," fostering the formation of a sustainable regional-academic community.

Although a rich food culture exists in the area surrounding SFC, there are few opportunities to experience it on campus.  

In conjunction with its "agriculture" initiatives, the Okomen Project is working to promote local "food" on campus.  

In the fall semester of fiscal year 2023, we conducted a rice harvest with about 50 first-year students as part of a supplementary class for Fundamentals of Environmental Studies (GIGA), a course taken by new students in the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies. For these new students who are about to delve into various interests and specialized fields, experiencing the "environmental information" of the area surrounding the university firsthand not only broadens their perspectives but also lays the foundation for creating future relationships between various students and the community. From fiscal year 2024 onward, we will continue to create opportunities for diverse students to engage with the community through "agriculture," fostering the formation of a sustainable regional-academic community.

Furthermore, at the SFC EXPO held in November, we sold rice at the co-op and provided it at the Homecoming Day for alumni. This provided an opportunity for not only students, alumni, and faculty but also various visitors to the campus to learn about the surrounding area through "food" and to consider their future relationship with the university. From fiscal year 2024, our goal is to create a connection between food and agriculture initiatives, encouraging more people to not only experience the local area through food but also to participate in agricultural activities.

Focusing on "food and agriculture," we are undertaking initiatives that aim to open up the university to the community for various students and faculty, while also working hand-in-hand with local residents to build a sustainable partnership between the community and the university.  

The Hasebe Laboratory has rented a private house in the Goshomi district to serve as a shared hub for living, eating, and clothing, aimed at fostering exchange and collaboration both on and off campus. At this hub, we held an activity report meeting, inviting not only university affiliates but also residents of the Endo and Goshomi districts. Over two days, about 60 people participated. During the event, which included making mochi with harvested glutinous rice and relaxing inside the house, people who had not previously interacted were able to connect and recognize each other as members of the same community. It became an important gathering for linking the community and the university.

In January 2024, we held a two-day, one-night workshop to consider how the community and the university can collaborate in the future in the fields of "food and agriculture," and how we can shape "food and agriculture that coexist with the community."

At this meeting, attended by 21 students and faculty members, participants discussed and proposed ideas for realizing a community-university collaborative sustainable campus, using food and agriculture as a starting point based on their respective research fields. In fiscal year 2024, based on the three proposals, we will move forward with initiatives to realize each plan, involving more students, faculty, and local residents.