On May 29, 2016, Gifu University held "Parent-Children Rice Planting & Soccer Game in Muddy Field" at the Yanagido Farm of Gifu Field Science Center, the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University. This event is part of promotional activities of a Gifu University and Gifu Football Club (FC Gifu) Partner Agreement for Environmental Conservation.

The "Parent-Children Rice Planting & Soccer Game in Muddy Field" is the second activity of "Gifu Nice Rice Project" after the first one held last year. In this Project, Gifu University officials and FC Gifu members join hands from rice planting to rice sale so that people become more aware of ideal environment for rice cultivation and think deeply about environmental issues. This time, a total of 28 children from third to fifth grade of Gifu University Education Faculty Affiliated Elementary School and those from FC Gifu Soccer School attended the event.

First, Professor Shinya Oba, Director of the Gifu Field Science Center, spoke about weed evolution and agricultural chemicals development. He mentioned the history of rice cultivation and explained the importance of agricultural chemicals and the impact of their use on paddy fields in plain Japanese. Children were intently listening to him with ancient rice, rice seedlings and weeds in hand. Later, children and their parents entered the muddy field ready for them. While letting out a big cheer, they began planting "Hatsushimo" rice seedlings at the word of command of staff.

Next, children were divided into four teams and played soccer games. Covered in mud, children were tirelessly chasing a ball caring nothing about falling to the mud.

During the event, children enjoyed catching frogs and long-horned beetles, eating baked potatoes harvested in the same field. This event gave a rare opportunity to the participants to be exposed to rich natural environment and all seemed very happy about this occasion.

In this Gifu Nice Rice Project, the participants and the FC Gifu members are scheduled to harvest the rice they planted this time, and sell the rice at the Farm of Gifu University in October.