The Farm Project, a collaboration between JICUF and ICU, was launched in spring 2024. (Click here to read about the project’s background and meet Farm Manager Chigusa Horiuchi.) JICUF will be sharing seasonal updates on the project’s progress and activities.

Rooted in the themes of food, agriculture, and environmental engagement, the Farm Project began its activities last fall under the name FARM DAYS. Students and faculty volunteers gathered about three days a week to cultivate the land, plant fruit trees, and tend to the fields. By February 2025, nearly 100 individuals—including many repeat volunteers—had taken part. Currently, the project focuses on three key areas: the forest garden, the orchard, and the wasabi field, which you can see are labeled on the below campus map.

Forest Garden

This area has long been used by student clubs for growing vegetables and other crops. Today, it supports a range of activities, including farming, beekeeping, a student-led compost and eco-fertilizer initiative, and cherry trees planted by the alumni association. The Farm Project is working in collaboration with these existing groups while also expanding into unused and—transforming it into a space for cultivation, relaxation, and connection. The goal is to create a welcoming environment where students, faculty, and local community members can come together and engage with nature. Between summer and fall, extensive clearing work was carried out to open up the area, including the former golf course fairway. With the groundwork laid, full-scale crop cultivation will begin this spring.

Orchard

This newly developing orchard aligns with ICU’s 2021–2025 Mid-Term Plan, which emphasizes environmental awareness through food. Located near the student dormitories, the orchard is designed as a space where students can connect with food and nature as part of their daily lives. The site, once occupied by a building, required significant cleanup. Volunteers worked by hand, using shovels to remove rubble and level the ground. Between December 2024 and March 2025, 27 saplings representing 10 different species—including persimmons and blueberries—were planted. The project emphasizes sustainability, using compost made from fallen leaves and food waste collected on campus through ICU Compost. Starting in April, new additions will include informational signage and woodchip pathways to enhance accessibility and learning.

Wasabi Field

In partnership with Mitaka City through a comprehensive collaboration agreement, the Farm Project has revived an old wasabi field. As of April 2024, the team began cultivating the indigenous Mitaka Ōsawa Wasabi. Volunteers—many from the local community—gather twice a month on the first and third Tuesdays to care for the field. Despite challenges such as heat and insect damage during the warmer months, the wasabi plants have grown steadily, with some stems now reaching up to 40 cm tall.

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Looking ahead, the Farm Project will continue developing each area while working to raise awareness both on and off campus. Upcoming events will invite students, alumni, and local residents to get involved and experience the farm firsthand.
Stay tuned for more updates—and [click here] to follow the latest news from the Farm Project!