In 1986, I visited an informal settlement in Kenya, where I contracted malaria. It was here where my “African journey” began. At that time, Japan was in the middle of an economic bubble. The world back home seemed to be in a state of euphoria.
However, at the same time, I saw many children in Kenya who lacked food and drinking water. I experienced a big culture shock.

Since then, for 36 years, I have always been involved in African upliftment projects, such as the construction and management of orphanages and schools. In February 2021, together with Yusuke Saraya (president of Saraya Co. Ltd), we started a fullscale community development project centered around providing safe drinking water to rural villages in African countries. We titled the project “Harvest Paradise”. During the construction work, I contracted Covid-19 and had a near-death experience yet again. Luckily, I was able to return to Japan safely, and in April 2022, we established Harvest Moon Co., Ltd. in Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture.

Here, we have opened a concept café named Harvest Moon Coffee & Wine. We provide a platform for people from across Africa to introduce their products to the people of Japan. Our aim is to establish 100 “Harvest Paradise” projects throughout Africa over the course of the next 10 years.