As the worldwide recession continues, Japan is seriously reconsidering its agricultural policies in terms of both exports and self-sufficiency. Moreover, ways must be found to encourage young people to make careers out of farming.

Hirokazu Kiuchi has already shaken up the agricultural establishment with his revolutionary management methods. He's the subject of this week's edition of "Professional: Shigoto no Ryugi" ("Professional: Methods for Working"; NHK-G, Tues., 10 p.m.), where he explains why his collective of farms enjoys annual revenues that are twice as large as the national average.

Kiuchi started with a basic philosophy that says "you must be suspicious of the status quo." He and his followers never take customary practices at face value and challenge "normal" business concepts.