On July 25, Hiroki Sasaki, 54, received the first installment of money raised through a crowdfunding campaign organized by residents of Ukiha City in Fukuoka Prefecture to help restore his family orchard.
The campaign was launched after repeated thefts pushed the farm to the brink of closure. Last summer, thieves took around 6,500 pears shortly before they were due to be harvested. The financial blow left Sasaki unable to retain his workers, forcing him to dissolve his company and operate the orchard with only his father.
The farm was targeted again on July 17, when approximately 5,000 premium Kosui pears were stolen just before harvest. The combined losses from the two incidents were estimated at 4 million yen (US$26,000). “Two consecutive years of theft have drained all my motivation,” Sasaki told FNN. “It feels like we’re growing pears just for thieves to steal.”
Local resident Rikiya Sato launched the fundraising effort after hearing about the family’s situation. “Since the news broke, so many people have reached out wanting to help,” Sato told KBC.
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Ripen pears. Photo from Pixabay |
Japanese model Akemi Darenogare also encouraged her followers on X to contribute. Donations exceeded the initial target within a day, prompting organizers to close the campaign ahead of schedule.
The Sasaki family also received about 1,300 phone calls, emails and messages of support from people around Japan.
“It was a truly worrying situation, but I realized it was okay to speak up,” Sasaki told ANN. “I’m determined to do something to get things back on track, and I’m going to act with that in mind.”
Major Japanese e-commerce platform Mercari said it had reviewed its listings but found none matching the missing pears, according to J-CAST News. Police in Fukuoka Prefecture are examining security-camera footage from the surrounding area as they continue searching for the thieves.
To thank those who supported his family, Sasaki plans to send donors some of the pears that remain in the orchard.