The "edamame" green soybeans, eggplant and maize were about ready for harvest. But a closer look showed that bugs had eaten up some of the vegetables and that weeds had grown in parts of the field.
"This is no good, because it's the work of shield bugs," said Tsuneyoshi Mita, 48, as he examined the soybeans. He did not seem disappointed, however, because he knows his chemical-free vegetables are not immune to the assault of bugs.
A former physics assistant at the University of Tokyo, Mita severed his ties with the ivory tower and settled down in the town of Zao, Miyagi Prefecture, near the Zao mountain range, 17 years ago to grow organic vegetables.
Mita grew up in the rich natural surroundings of Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture.