[Branch Flowers Self-Cultivated] A new member will soon join us in Toyooka Village, Nagano Prefecture! Once again, someone from a different industry is taking on a new challenge.

Hello everyone, nice to meet you.

My name is Sho Watanabe, and I will be starting as a Regional Revitalization Cooperator in Toyooka Village from July, focusing on cultivating branch greenery. I am currently 37 years old and a father of two children with my wife.

I came to Toyooka Village drawn by the rich nature of Nagano Prefecture and the potential of agriculture.

Until now, I have gained experience in industries related to health and lifestyle, working in the medical device and construction sectors.

The motivation for this challenge came from a strong desire for "work created with my own hands," which cannot be measured solely by efficiency or data, and the wish to build a job that I can be proud of for future generations.

Among various options, I chose branch greenery because I was captivated by its profound ability to decorate spaces and soothe people's hearts.

Currently, I am receiving assistance from an agricultural company in the neighboring city of Iida, and on my days off, I help with field maintenance at Mr. Hasegawa's farm.

After officially starting, I plan to engage in hands-on work and, at the same time, leverage my past experience to challenge the "new forms of agriculture," such as improving production efficiency through IT tools and data utilization.

My intention is to establish branch greenery from Toyooka Village as a brand and deliver it not only to Japan but also to the world, and to play a part in connecting the beautiful scenery of this village to the future.

Please feel free to reach out if you ever visit Toyooka Village! I look forward to working with you.