Going for Gold

How a Mountain Village Brought Yuzu to the World

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Pub Date 03 Nov 2020 | Archive Date 31 Aug 2022

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Description

In 1960, a young agricultural engineer assigned to Kito, a cold village in the deep mountains of Tokushima Prefecture, embarked on an astonishing challenge to protect the livelihood of the villagers.

He cleared a densely planted cedar forest, which had been left untended and abandoned, and began to cultivate Yuzu citrons. Producing Yuzu citrons is such a difficult undertaking that there is a saying that it takes three years for peaches and chestnuts, eight years for persimmons, and 18 years for the great fool of yuzu. While everyone else is wary of him, he gradually gained friends through persistent persuasion, and his hopes and dreams eventually bore fruit in the form of the "Kito Yuzu" brand.

However, the harsh reality of constructing a dam strikes the villagers who have just begun to look forward to a brighter future, and an unexpected tragedy ensues.

Depopulation, an aging population, industrial collapse, and the destruction of nature… Finally, the long-awaited novelization of this inspiring true story, set in the beautiful nature of Shikoku, is about to critically change the future of rural society!



Japanese description

昭和35年。徳島県の山深き寒村・木頭に赴任した一人の青年農業技師が、村人の暮らしを守るために驚愕の挑戦に着手した。植えっぱなしで見捨てられた杉の密植林を開墾し、柚子の栽培を始めたのである。桃栗三年、柿八年、柚子の大馬鹿十八年と言われるほど困難な事業であった。誰もが白眼視するなか、粘り強い説得で少しずつ仲間も増え、一筋の希望はやがて「木頭柚子」というブランドに結実していく。

しかし、明るい未来に手をかけたばかりの村人をダム建設という過酷な現実が襲い、予想もしなかった悲劇が……。

過疎高齢化、産業崩壊、自然破壊。四国の美しい自然を舞台に、地方社会の危機的未来を塗り変える感動の実話が、ついに待望の小説化!

In 1960, a young agricultural engineer assigned to Kito, a cold village in the deep mountains of Tokushima Prefecture, embarked on an astonishing challenge to protect the livelihood of the villagers...


A Note From the Publisher

English edition is not on sale.

English edition is not on sale.


Advance Praise

■ Contributors

Author: Miyoko Asai

Born in 1966 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Asai has authored novels, nonfiction works, short stories, and children’s literature, including numerous titles under pen names.

Project Advisor: Hiroshi Usuki

Born in 1934 in Wajiki, Tokushima Prefecture. After graduating from the technical college affiliated with the Tokushima Prefecture Agricultural Experiment Station, Usuki devoted many years to the development of the prefecture’s mountain villages, both as an agricultural extension officer and a social education supervisor. His achievements in developing, commercializing, and disseminating improved varieties of yuzu have significantly impacted Japanese foodways.

■ Contributors

Author: Miyoko Asai

Born in 1966 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Asai has authored novels, nonfiction works, short stories, and children’s literature, including numerous titles under pen...


Available Editions

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ISBN 9784048843768
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Featured Reviews

Thank you Netgalley and Miyoko Asai for letting me read this short memoar. My thoughts are my own.

Inspirational stories from Japan are filled with hardworking, persistent and high spirit to archieve results from each conditions. Going for Gold also give us heartwarming true story about young agricultural engineer who never stop doing his best to elevate life quality of farmers in Kito island.

Some photographs showed us how lush and beautiful Kito, a cold village in the deep mountains of Tokushima Prefecture. But the climate and the internal problems such as depopulation, an aging population, industrial collapse, and the destruction of nature become reason this village is slowly fade in the past.

I love to see Mr Usuki's way of thinking, his work ethic and how he truly care to tried everything for Kito. We will saw his struggles to get his Yuzu project idea, how to make those ideas accepted and being rejected by people he really want to help. It is wonderful moment when such a short book can bring so much emotional rollercoaster. This book so inspiring me and give me more info about small example how Japan is one of few traditional country whom fast growing after big war.

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