Hatake Hottoke Co., Ltd.
Shiojiri, Nagano startup founded 2021 making Mizunigoru, a GNSS-guided paddy weeding robot that muddies water to block weeds, sold and rented to farms.
Hatake Hottoke Co., Ltd. is a smart-agriculture equipment developer founded on 25 October 2021 and based in Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It develops, manufactures and sells products that automate farm work using IoT, AI and robotics, and is led by Representative Director Yui Hiyoshi.
Its main product is Mizunigoru, a paddy weeding robot. The machine drives through flooded rice fields, stirring up the water so that suspended mud blocks photosynthesis of germinating weeds, while a brush removes newly sprouted seedlings. It targets annual paddy weeds such as barnyard grass, monochoria, bulrush and arrowhead rather than perennials. Mizunigoru can be remote controlled or, in the GNSS versions, drive autonomously along a preset route using positioning from Japan's QZSS Michibiki CLAS service. The company's GNSS device records the corners of a field (up to a 20-sided shape) to build a waypoint route that is stored on the machine and selected with a button. Published figures: about 15-20 minutes per 10 ares, an optimal water depth of 4-10 cm, a waterproof body, and battery runtimes of 60-180 minutes (standard) or 90-240 minutes (large) depending on soil. One unit is quoted as covering about 3 ha in 10 hours with a spare battery, or roughly 9-15 ha when run every 3-5 days.
For the 2025 season the company offered up to 50 GNSS-model units and 50 improved remote-control units through rental, sale and farmer-to-farmer sharing; the 2025 GNSS model was priced at JPY 880,000 including tax for purchase or JPY 330,000 for seasonal rental. The 2027 model was selected for a Ministry of the Environment subsidy programme for electrified agricultural machinery, and mass production of an improved model was planned from 2026. The company also sells Mizunigoru rice grown by partner farmers and has two products in development: Shikanigoru, an AI laser device to deter wild animals, and Tambo Hotkeru, an automation solution for dry direct seeding of rice.
Recognition includes a 2021 Nagano Prefecture social business startup grant, selection for the Startup Future Factory at Japan Mobility Show 2023, MAFF certification under the Midori Food System Strategy, the Ichi Biz Award 2024 grand prize for Michibiki applications, and a 2026 Shinshu AI GEARS sandbox project. It raised funds through equity crowdfunding on eCrowd from October 2024.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Mizunigoru paddy weeding robot
- Model: 2025 GNSS model
- Launch Year: 2025
Paddy robot that muddies water to block weed photosynthesis, driving autonomous GNSS routes or by remote control.
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Contact Hatake Hottoke Co., Ltd.
WEBSITE
https://hhtk.jp/HEADQUARTERS
Japan
Company Facts
Founded
2021
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
Asia-Pacific
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
