Shine Muscat, this seedless grape has a reasonable price with a light green rind that does not need to be peeled before eating (Japanese consumers usually remove the skin due to the thickening of locally grown grapes) has a sweet, juicy taste, and plump flesh, and a distinct, refreshing aroma known as the "Queen of Hometown". A new level of taste that surprises even grape growers. Yoshiyuki Okaki is the owner of Okaki Farm located in the north of Suzuka City, Nagano Prefecture. The farm was established during the Taisho period (1912-1926) and for the past 50 years, it has been cultivating Okaki grapes. Together with his wife Reiko, who handles the affairs of the general office, and his son Hiroyuki, who is in charge of brands and sales, Okaki runs his farm to produce high-quality grapes. In 2005, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), he was one of the first to begin the experimental cultivation of glossy musk, a cultivar that resulted from a cross between Akitsu-21 and Hakunan cultivars. After Shine Muscat was officially registered the following year, Okaki began cultivating grapes in earnest. He remembers his first encounter with the new grape well in Muscat. The first time I heard of gloss garlands was probably around 2003. I first tasted it at the Nagano Fruit Tree Experiment before anyone started seriously growing it. When I saw them, I thought they were smaller than the others. 
The grapes were on the market At the time. It looked yellowish green and quite ripe. I put it in my mouth, wow: I was very impressed by its sweetness and its aroma. Lo - it was not like any other grape I had tasted at the time! Shine Muscat is also attractive for its crunchy, firmer texture. He excelled in every aspect as no other grape did, and I thought then that I would like to grow them myself to bring out the best in them.”
- The soil and climate of Nagano beyond the sweetness
Nagano Prefecture is the main producer of brilliant musk in terms of cultivated area and volume. Like the Okaki farm, there are many producers in Suzuka City. Located in a fan-shaped valley with good groundwater drainage across the Minami-Shigakogen Highlands, Suzuka is particularly suitable for viticulture. Another reason for the suitability of growing grapes in the region is the difference in temperatures during the day and at night. Being at such an altitude, nighttime temperatures in Suzuka are much lower than those experienced during the day; It disrupts breathing and suction and reduces the consumption of sugar stored in the grapes. In addition, despite the low temperatures in the city, very little snow accumulates in the winter, which makes it possible to grow grapes in greenhouses during the cold months. Currently, about 70% of the 0.65 hectares (1.6 acres) is devoted to greenhouse cultivation and about 90% of the 1.4 hectares (3.5 acres) of open area is to the cultivation of bright geranium. Harvesting in greenhouses begins around May; the Peak harvest time for outdoor grapes is in August - September. With high-tech cold storage facilities now available, it is possible to ship the grapes by mid-January. 
Not only do they have fun in the fall when they are in season; Shine Muscat has become a luxurious and popular fruit that can be enjoyed year-round, as part of a traditional Christmas dinner or New Year's feast, or purchased as gift-wrapped for those who help in some way as usual. A beautiful shape resulting from craftsmanship and instinct has been achieved over many years. For a muskrat to grow large and tasty, thinning is necessary. For every 100 grapes, about a third are removed to make room for them to grow and to ensure that each grape cluster has an attractive shape. This task requires growers to assess the growth of fruits before thinning with special shears, and they occupy about 40% of the grape growing process. Determining the chrome to remove is a skill that only comes with years of experience. The way each fruit grows on the vine is different, so mechanizing this work will be very difficult. At Okaki Farm, the amount of fruit on each vine is pruned by hand to provide the maximum amount of nutrients per bunch of grapes and produce high-quality fruit. Experience and intuition tell workers which flocks to leave. While the concept of "the higher the yield, the greater the revenue" may be true, Okaki Farm's philosophy is to nurture and select each grape to continue producing delicious fruit of unquestionably high quality. 
The relentless focus not only on taste but also on the visual appearance of the grapes may reflect an attitude the Japanese have long believed in and valued beauty and consideration for others. This spirit and technical know-how will undoubtedly elevate Shine Muscat to the level of 'best grapes', attracting more people's attention in the future.
- Adopting Low Carbon Agriculture for Tomorrow
As already mentioned, the production of high-quality fruits requires the technology and experience of skilled workers. Okaki Farm also enthusiastically introduces new technologies and researches and develops eco-friendly farming methods. One such system provides the vines with abundant sunlight more efficiently, which is an essential part of viticulture. It involves placing a reflective sheet on the ground and reflecting sunlight onto the leaves, stimulating photosynthesis more effectively. In addition, in the absence of sufficient lighting due to the weather, it is supplemented with LED lights, thereby ensuring the steady growth of delicious fruits. Okaki Farm has taken it a step further, switching from heavy fuel oil to renewable solar energy for temperature control in greenhouses. By installing a series of solar panels — which not only generate electricity but also protect the vines from rain — they meet the goals of MAFF's low-carbon farming recommendations. When the summer sun goes down, it gets very hot under the vines. “Using solar panels to shade them is not only good for the health of the grapes, but it’s also better for workers. 
Plus, being able to use the on-site generated electricity to charge machines or run heat pumps for greenhouses helps us financially, with the bonus of suppressing our carbon dioxide emissions. We have been trying to use renewable energy since 2003. It started as part of a pilot initiative for the city of Suzuka, but now we realize that in addition to making high-quality grapes, it is very important to consider the environment and ensure longevity. Convenience The city is also making efforts to produce compost from household waste; Welly using it here now. I think it's great that the city could do something like this. Okaki is not only someone who is seriously devoted to making delicious grapes; He's facing a huge problem with taking care of the environment and trying to change what he can to make a difference in the future. The brilliance of Muscat, full of passion, reflects the sense of purpose and their willingness to innovate and evolve to provide great-tasting fruits.