Hi everyone! My name is Matthieu MALESYS, I am 18 years old, and I am from France. I am currently living here in Japan for an exciting professional internship.
My journey has brought me to Niigata Prefecture, a region world-famous for its deep-rooted history in blacksmithing, high-quality tool manufacturing, and incredible craftsmanship. I came to Japan to dive headfirst into this rich industrial culture, challenge myself in a new environment, and learn directly from local experts. Outside of work, I love staying active with physical challenges, exploring the countryside, and connecting with people my own age to learn more about the local culture!
Here in Niigata, we are surrounded by a rich history of metalwork and craftsmanship. Every day, we talk about tools, blades, and the grit it takes to forge something real. But this past weekend, I got to connect with a completely different side of Niigata’s heritage, one that required me to step off the factory floor, leave my shoes behind, and dive headfirst into the land.
Sinking Barefoot into Living History
Niigata is legendary for its rice, but modern agricultural landscapes are mostly dominated by the mechanical hum of planting tractors. I was given the rare, invaluable chance to throw the machines out the window and experience a traditional, completely manual planting day.
The weather couldn't have been more perfect. The sun was out, stretching wide over the valley, washing everything in a bright, warm light that instantly put me in an amazing headspace. When we arrived at the paddies, there was no room for hesitation: shoes came off, pants were rolled up, and we stepped right into the flooded earth.
If you’ve never stood barefoot in a Japanese rice paddy, it’s hard to describe. The cool, thick mud immediately squished up between my toes, grounding me instantly. There’s an incredible, raw vulnerability to working barefoot in the earth. The labor itself was beautifully brutal. It demands a constant, bent-backed rhythm that burns the thighs and tests your stamina. But as someone who genuinely loves physical exertion and is used to heavy lifting, I felt completely alive. Doing it by hand gave me a profound respect for traditional Japan, feeling the exact physical price and deep care that goes into cultivating a single bowl of rice.
The 100-Yen Feast and Pure Japanese Heart
After hours of pushing our bodies under the sunshine, we finally stepped out of the mud, exhausted but smiling. The local community had gathered to cook for us, setting out a massive, gorgeous spread of local dishes. The wildest part? The entire feast was offered to us for just 100 yen!
The food was absolutely delicious—the kind of rich, comforting flavors that taste even better after a hard day's work—but the hospitality was the real highlight.
I was welcomed with a warmth that felt like family. The locals were completely fascinated by my story and showered me with genuine, sweet curiosity. They wanted to know everything: my origins, what life is like in France, and the deeper story of what brought me all the way to Japan to live and work.
A few of them even lit up trying to practice the few French words they knew! They were just incredibly kind, adorable, and open-hearted.
Breaking Barriers, Making Friends
What made the weekend truly complete was the crowd. It wasn’t just an event for older generations; I was surrounded by Japanese peers my own age.
There is a unique bond that happens when you are all standing in the mud together, looking ridiculous, struggling through the physical work, and laughing at the sheer mess of it. Over those shared plates of food and mud-stained clothes, any lingering language barriers completely melted away. We were just young people connecting, sharing a moment, and enjoying each other's company.
This weekend wasn't just a fun break from the routine; it was a powerful reminder of why I fell in love with Japan in the first place. It’s a country where the roots of tradition run deep, where hard physical work is respected, and where the human warmth can make a guy from France feel completely at home in the middle of a Niigata rice field.
