Wasabi grown on shelves in a shipping container and in the Yokohama area to boot? And delivered straight to sushi chefs working nearby? Not likely, purists might shout, thinking that Japanese horseradish can only flourish in mountain areas with pristine rushing water.
Going against the traditional image, a specialized factory module in Shin-Yokohama boasts the latest in sensing technology to ensure cultivation conditions remain perfect 24/7. The operator is looking to pitch an autonomous system based on artificial intelligence (AI) at some point to maximize production.
Using a container for farming is the brainchild of Tokyo-based agricultural start-up Nextage Inc. With technical support from semiconductor trading firm Macnica Inc. in Yokohama, Nextage has begun selling the agricultural module in the Japanese market.
At present, a single 12-meter-long container sits in the grounds of Macnica's headquarters near Shin-Yokohama Station. On entering, one is quickly struck by the dark green wasabi leaves illuminated by LED lights.
Read more at The Asahi Shimbum