TOMODACHI Tanaka Sangyo Agricultural Exchange Initiative: Launching an Agricultural Leadership Program Connecting Niigata and Texas

 

The TOMODACHI Tanaka Sangyo Agricultural Exchange Initiative is an eight-month leadership development program designed for 20 selected undergraduate students from partner universities in Niigata Prefecture and the State of Texas. Centered on the theme of agriculture, the program aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will serve as a bridge between the U.S. and Japan by exploring sustainability, innovation, and intercultural collaboration.

 

At the orientation held in January 2026, Mr. Akiyuki Tanaka, Managing Director of Tanaka Sangyo Co., Ltd., the program’s sponsor, addressed the participants. He emphasized the significance of fostering friendships and sharing agricultural expertise between students of both nations, drawing on his company’s perspective on rice farming management in Niigata. Furthermore, he expressed high expectations that the insights gained from Texas’s cutting-edge agriculture would lead to solving challenges within Japanese agriculture and creating a sustainable future.
Following the orientation, the online sessions featured lively discussions focused on the concept of leadership as “cultivating the soil,” encouraging self-reflection and the sharing of personal values. Through a lecture by faculty from Texas A&M University, students also deepened their understanding of the economic impact and environmental challenges of large-scale agriculture in Texas, building a strong foundation for their upcoming in-person exchange.

 

Honoka Hattori, a participant from Japan, reflected on the experience: “Through the online sessions, I felt a strong sense of connection discovering that students in Texas share similar goals and awareness of agricultural issues. During our visit to Texas, I hope to see large-scale farming sites firsthand and explore ways to combine the strengths of both Japan and the U.S. for the future of agriculture.”
Kristy Nguyen, a participant from Texas, expressed her excitement: “I have already learned so much, from understanding my values to navigating difficult situations with my colleagues. As a Texas representative, I am excited about sharing our unique culture and agricultural insight with my new friends and experiencing everything this program has to offer together.”
In March, ten students from Niigata will travel to College Station and Houston, Texas, to join the other participants from Texas A&M University. Through university lectures, tours of research facilities, and visits to farms and businesses, the students will continue to expand their knowledge and vision for a sustainable future in agriculture.