As we enter September, the weather has been so bad it makes you wonder if the rainy season is starting late.

The intense heat in August was extremely tough for us, as we work with living creatures. The water shortage, which was reported nationwide, was particularly troubling for us. Things are now relatively back to normal, so we're feeling a sense of relief.

The other day, while showing a customer around the ranch, I had the opportunity to go to the "Shining Hill" observation deck. The view from here always changes with the seasons, and it's a power spot for me, as it stirs up special emotions. This is also the place where I always watch the first sunrise of the year on New Year's Day.

I love how the ranch changes every time I look at it, and how it blends in with nature despite the human touch. Founder Teruo Hashimoto often said that it would take 100 years to complete this ranch. Currently, it is only just over one-third complete.

Our generation is the relay. Every time I come to this hill, I think about how we can pass this ranch on to the next generation.

We will continue to develop Ark Tategamori to foster the healthy lives of the next generation while nurturing the philosophy that "food is life."

Tomoatsu Hashimoto