Close to the Bikan Historical Area and opposite Geibunkan Hall is the Okayama University Institute of Plant Science and Resources. Since its predecessor, the Ohara Agricultural Research Institute, was established here in 1914, this historic agricultural research institute has continued its research activities for more than 110 years.
The annual public open day was held on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
The event featured introductions to research findings, displays of valuable materials rarely seen by the public, and tours of the barley fields across the grounds, drawing many visitors.
Here is a report on the day.
The information presented is as of the article’s publication in June 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Okayama University Institute of Plant Science and Resources Open Day?
The Okayama University Institute of Plant Science and Resources holds an annual open day to share its research findings with the public and help people become more familiar with plants around them. In 2026, it was held on Saturday, May 9.
This year’s theme was “Come, see, and discover!! Plants are fascinating.”
The day featured introductions to research findings, experiments and observations involving familiar plants, and tours. Many visitors of all ages attended.
Highlights of the day
A line had already formed at the entrance before the doors opened at 10 a.m. Visitors received a map of the facilities and a quiz rally answer sheet at the entrance before heading inside.
A variety of carefully planned events and displays were held inside the institute. Below, I’ll introduce the activities I took part in.
Barley Field Tour
The Barley Field Tour is a popular annual event. Led by institute staff, visitors tour the barley fields spread across the grounds to the south of the institute.
Field
A place where crops are grown. Here, it refers to rice paddies and other farmland.
Many people had gathered at the main entrance, the meeting point, before the tour’s 10:30 a.m. departure. Soon it was time to set off, and the field tour began.
The origins of barley
Various types of barley are grown in the fields. A staff member explained the origins of barley.
Barley cultivation is thought to have begun around 10,000 years ago in a region of what is now the Middle East known as the Fertile Crescent.
Fertile Crescent
The area around present-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine. It has been a prosperous region since ancient times; the Mesopotamian civilization flourished in the Tigris and Euphrates river basins.
Since then, people around the world have spent thousands of years repeatedly improving barley varieties, shaping them into the forms we know today.
Many unusual varieties are also grown in the fields.
For example, this variety is called “no-sickle-needed” because its stems can be snapped easily by hand.
It was bred to make harvesting easier, but even a gust of wind can break its stems and cause the ears to fall off, so it is not suitable for practical use as a crop.
Developing varieties that can adapt to harsh environments
There was a plot of “acidic soil” with a pH of 4.0–4.5 in the field.
Acidic soil is a typical problem soil in which it is difficult for many plants to grow, and it accounts for around 30–40% of the world’s arable land.
Years of research led to the discovery of a specific gene that confers resistance to acidic soil. Among the barley plants in this plot, those growing well are varieties that are resistant to acidic soil.
Research is underway to uncover and harness the genetic potential of plants, as part of efforts to help solve global food problems.
An important site for local weather observations, too
There was an area in the field covered with grass.
Okayama Local Meteorological Office’s AMeDAS (Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System) is installed here, serving as an official weather observation site for Kurashiki.
There was also an explanation of the equipment used to measure precipitation.
Free barley tea in the courtyard
A tent in the courtyard housed an exhibition titled “Welcome to the Barley Museum.”
In addition to displaying various barley varieties, the exhibition featured a range of products made with barley, something familiar to us all. Malt, essential for making whiskey and beer, is made by germinating barley.
Staff also explained the difference between six-row barley and two-row barley, terms we often hear in the names of barley tea products.
Six-row barley
Three grains grow at each point, forming six rows when arranged on both sides, which is why it is called “six-row.”
Two-row barley
It is called “two-row” because its grains grow in two rows. In fact, two-row barley also has small parts in the other rows that are “vestiges”; six-row barley developed when those parts evolved to produce grains.
In Japan, until around the Meiji Restoration, six-row barley, used in dishes such as barley rice, was mainly cultivated. Two-row barley came from Europe and the United States after the Meiji era as an ingredient for beer. Since then, varieties have continued to be improved to suit Japan’s hot, humid climate.
The delicious free service of homemade barley tea was popular with visitors. Both hot and cold tea were available, and it was a pleasure to compare them.
Exhibition of Valuable Plant Specimens
On the third floor of the institute, an exhibition featured valuable plant seed specimens collected by Dr. Kondo Mantaro, the institute’s first director.
In addition to Dr. Kondo’s collection, some of the pressed plant specimens held by the institute—said to number as many as 80,000—were also on display.
Look at Mold Through a Microscope
At a station where visitors could observe mold, a familiar microorganism, through a microscope, we were able to prepare a slide and view the mold’s structure. It brought back memories of science experiments in middle school.
Challenge♪ Quiz Rally
This popular activity takes visitors around the institute as they answer quizzes placed throughout the grounds. The answers can be found in the exhibits, so take your time exploring the booths and you’ll find them.
The board held by an international student visiting from overseas featured questions like this one. It was an opportunity for international exchange close to home.
Those who complete the rally receive original institute merchandise (such as ballpoint pens, clear files, and notepads) or plant seeds (sunflowers or corn).
From the Writer
This was our second time attending the institute’s annual open day, following last year. Through the many fascinating exhibits about crops directly connected to people’s lives, including the barley field tour, we were able to learn about the institute’s research in an accessible way.
We also learned that crops such as barley have undergone years of variety improvement to suit their growing environments and produce larger harvests. It made us realize that today’s abundance rests on the hard work of those who came before us.
2026 Okayama University Institute of Plant Science and Resources Annual Open Day Information
| Name | 2026 Okayama University Institute of Plant Science and Resources Annual Open Day |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, May 9, 2026 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (gates open: 9:30 a.m.) |
| Location | 2-20-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Website | Okayama University Institute of Plant Science and Resources |
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