In the cold, snowy town of Teshikaga, Hokkaido, Mitsumune Murata was contemplating how to make use of a plot of land with a hot spring when he came up with a unique idea: mangoes.
Murata is a big fan of onsen (spas), but did not feel like constructing a hot springs facility as there already were many in the neighborhood's Mashu Onsen area. So he decided to use that thermal energy to heat greenhouses instead.
Perhaps because the tropical fruit was too far removed from the common image of wintry Hokkaido, friends he consulted were all skeptical of his plan and said the business would not work. The negative responses just made him more determined to give it a try.