Sports · Football · 1 day ago
Hirosaki football players take orchard jobs to build careers beyond sport
Two players with Blancdieu Hirosaki FC are combining football with jobs in apple farming in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture.
The team plays in a fifth-tier league in Japan’s Tohoku region.
Shota Shimogami works at an orchard, while Mamoru Kamisasanuki works for an apple producer and seller.
Both say farming could offer a career after they stop playing football.
Hirosaki is Japan’s leading apple-producing city, but its apple-related businesses fell from 4,045 in 2020 to 3,464 in 2025.
Agriculture workers in the area average in their 60s, and farms need more workers.
The city government has held seminars since fiscal 2025 to encourage people from sports organisations and other groups to enter agriculture.
Two football players in Hirosaki, Japan, are working in apple farming alongside league matches and practice to broaden their career options after sport.
Shota Shimogami works at Seino Farm, while Mamoru Kamisasanuki works for apple producer and seller Red Apple.
Their employers say the players bring extra workers and can help promote local apples and agriculture.
Hirosaki, Japan’s largest apple-producing city, faces a shrinking and ageing agricultural workforce.
The city government has held seminars since fiscal 2025 to encourage people from sports organisations and other groups to enter agriculture.
- Who
- Blancdieu Hirosaki FC players Shota Shimogami and Mamoru Kamisasanuki.
- What
- They are working in apple farming while playing football, aiming to build career options beyond sport.
- When
- Kamisasanuki began in May, and Shimogami began in August; both joined the team in 2026.
- Where
- Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
- Why
- They want to explore agriculture as a career after football, while local farms face a shrinking and ageing workforce.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hirosaki city government began holding seminars on joining agriculture for people from sports organisations and other groups.
Mamoru Kamisasanuki began working for Red Apple.
Shota Shimogami began working at Seino Farm.
Shimogami harvested Toki apples at Seino Farm.
- Team
- Blancdieu Hirosaki FC, a fifth-tier Tohoku-region team
- Shimogami's workplace
- Seino Farm
- Kamisasanuki's workplace
- Red Apple
- Apple-related business operators
- 3,464 in Hirosaki in 2025, down from 4,045 in 2020
- Agricultural workforce age
- Average age is in the 60s
What people are saying
I’ve realised how much effort is needed to grow apples.
I want to show that agriculture can be a career path after retiring from active competition.
I hope he has a positive influence on other workers.
I’m happy to see as many people as possible join the apple industry.
Sources
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