The Uchihori family settles into Chazy

​As if moving alone isn’t stressful enough, try moving with your wife and two young children thousands of miles from Japan to NY during a global pandemic!  That is exactly what Hiroyuki Uchihori and his family did, when they moved to Chazy in early August.
Hiroyuki – Hiro – has just begun a two-year position here at Miner as the on-site research scientist for Zen-Noh, an agricultural cooperative in Japan. Miner Institute and Zen-Noh have had a collaborative research relationship for more than 20 years. Over that time, Zen-Noh has supported research in many areas of dairy cattle production with a focus on nutrition. Hiro said that he is looking forward to continuing the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) research that Kyohei Ishida and Akihiro Obata began while they were here at Miner.
The Uchihori family – Hiroyuki (Hiro); his wife, Yu; daughter, Misaki, 6; and son, Haruto, 3 – “are very comfortable” here, Hiro said. Yu agreed. She said she likes the space and the country atmosphere and the “nice view” out the windows of the family’s apartment at Miner Institute.
Hiro has been employed with ZenNoh for 10 years and worked as a sales consultant for the company prior to coming to Chazy. He said that he is interested in research that contributes to dairy farmers directly. He said that it is important to understand the cow, and he is specifically interested in “how to best utilize dairy science on the farm to benefit dairy farmers.”
Hiro and Yu met in college in Hokkaido where they both studied animal science. Yu worked in animal vaccine research for three years before the two were married seven years ago. Yu now keeps very busy taking care of her children and helping them to adapt to life in America. Yu said that she enjoys spending time outside, and also watching movies, reading, and watching baseball games.  She also enjoys watching cooking shows and This Old House.  Yu said that she is looking forward to cooking a turkey, which is something she has never done before.
Misaki and Haruto both attend Chazy Central Rural School.  Misaki is in Mrs. Thume’s kindergarten class and Haruto is in pre-school. Misaki misses Japan and feels homesick for her friends and family.  Both children were overjoyed when they were able to trick or treat around the Miner residential complex on Halloween.  Big kudos to Steve Kramer who helped organize and to the residents who passed out candy.  Hiro and Yu felt it was such a kind, welcoming gesture and their kids were really happy with their haul!
We are so pleased to have the Uchihori family here at Miner and they are looking forward to their time here and are excited to see some snow! 

---