RISING

Hot Springs IoTernal: Agricultural Innovator - Kodama Norihiro

With its many volcanoes, Japan has the world's third-highest potential for geothermal energy. In 1984, Hachimantai, Iwate Pref. opened the country's first such power station, with greenhouses reusing the hot spring water to grow vegetables in the harsh northern winters. After falling out of use, they were revived by Kodama Norihiro, who has fused geothermal spring water with the Internet of Things to create a simple, sustainable new agricultural model that aims to revitalize this rural area.