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The contents here are partially modified from a newspaper article issued in February 2002. |
Yamada: |
The origin of our company is agriculture. I think what we get from agriculture is not just food but the spirit of the Japanese people including good faith, sincerity, and modesty. I felt uneasy that the decline of agriculture that nurtured the spirit of the Japanese people might also cause the decline of our heart. I began to think that advocating the value of agriculture in society might be the mission for our company. We are engaged in various social activities with a view to reviewing the intrinsic role of business and fulfilling our duties as members of society.
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Onuki: |
Yamada Bee Farm emphasizes the importance of social activities for children such as natural education and the contest of fairy tales and picture books.
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Yamada: |
We are working on long-standing activities such as "Eco School" and "Bee Class" for children to teach the relationships between human beings and nature through bees. The "Fairy Tales and Picture Books about Bees" Contest for children helps to enrich their hearts. I think it is the duty of our company, which is based on agriculture, to perform social activities to tell children about the appreciation of nature's bounty, warm human relationships, and the wisdom that was valued in agricultural society.
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Onuki: |
Social activities that are sponsored by companies tend to focus on the presentation of showy events. Yamada Bee Farm prefers to sponsor activities that nurture children's hearts.
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Yamada: |
We want to continue to present long-standing activities that are not influenced by the trends of the times and business. I believe that society and people's hearts will recover their tenderness and compassion when these children grow to adulthood, although I don't know whether it is a matter of several years or several dozens of years.
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Onuki: |
Though both companies and Japanese in general are experiencing hard times now, I think it is a good chance for us to review extravagance in a levelheaded manner. Human beings tend not to think of the essential until they are in adverse circumstances. I believe we should not be discouraged and disappointed by only looking at the present status. The present circumstances offer an excellent opportunity to create a new age for the 21st century. The advent of a company like Yamada Bee Farm may symbolize its beginning.
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Yamada: |
Yes. I will continue to work on a variety of social activities with a view that there are certain "missions" that can only be performed by Yamada Bee Farm. Thank you very much for your interview.
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Mr. Masao Onuki
Born in 1935. Graduated from the Mongolian Department of Osaka University of Foreign Studies in 1963. Completed the Faculty of Letters in the Graduate School (of Letters) of Kyoto University. Previously a professor at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies, he is now a professor on the School of Human Culture of the University of Shiga Prefecture. His principal works are: "Nomadic Society Now" (Aoki Shoten), "Mongolian Modern History" (Yamakawa Shuppansha), "Vegetable Garden Family Revolution" (Shakaishisou Sha, Gendai-Kyouyo Bunko), "Nomadic Society - Conflict Between Present and Future" (Takatsuki Bunko), "Recommendation of Cross-Cultural Experience" (collaboration, Osaka-Shoseki). Video works "Four Seasons of Nomadism: People in Zerger" triple-decker, six-volume (Dainichi) collaboration |
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