Passing on the love I received from my mentor to the next person - Nice Grapes, Mr. Ooma

Tracing the reasons why Mr. Oma was able to set out as a grape farmer, one invariably arrives at the presence of a single person.

That person is the mentor who taught Mr. Oma farming.

According to Mr. Oma, this mentor taught him not only agricultural knowledge but also, through their own example, "how to live" and "how to engage with the community."

"Trust," not "Instruction"

In the world of agriculture, starting a new farm takes an immense amount of time.

Going to school, completing training, and finally reaching independence takes five years—and another five years to become stable. At that rate, no one would ever continue.

Mr. Oma says that was what his mentor thought.

That is why what the mentor let Mr. Oma do was, "entrust him with a field right away."

The mentor had him come by on his days off to learn, paid him for his work as a part-timer, and after a year, told him, "I’m handing this acreage over to you, so go independent."

Mr. Oma says that instead of relying on systems, his mentor chose to trust a person.

Time and money spent not for self, but for the community

There were things he only learned later.

His mentor had even taken on debt to prepare fields for new farmers.

Not to maximize personal profit, but so that the region could continue.

"I realized there are people who can use their own time and money

for the sake of others," he said.

Mr. Oma notes that from that group, not a single person has dropped out to this day.

He believes that is not because the system was superior, but because there was love.

Passing the received love on to the next person

Mr. Oma now thinks, "It’s my turn to be in that position."

To ensure that those who want to start farming can continue without taking unnecessary detours and without feeling alone.

He doesn’t want to just copy what his mentor did, but to update it into a form suited for his own generation and pass it on.

That is his answer to the love he received from his mentor.

Love is "letting them continue" without conditions

His mentor didn't talk much. He didn't give minute instructions. He simply kept preparing the environment so that things would move in a good direction.

"That, I suppose, is love," he said.

Mr. Oma says this with a touch of shyness. It isn't about teaching what is "right," but about creating an environment where people can keep going.

In the vineyards of Nice Grapes, such "inherited love" is quietly taking root.