However, it’s a very risky procedure, because it depends on the weather. Rice, a monocot, is normally grown as an annual plant, although in tropical areas it can survive as a perennial and can produce a ratoon crop for up to 30 years. About 85% of the 2.3 million farms in Japan plant rice yearly. The main reason is reportedly the Japanese consumers’ demand for “high-quality” rice. It has a terraced rice field that belongs to Japan’s top 100 most beautiful rice fields. To reach the highest tier of the rice-drying rack one person has to climb up a ladder while the other person throws the bundles of rice. Dancers mime farming tasks such as … Other crops include melons, tomatoes, wheat, soybeans, tea, tobacco, and other fruits and vegetables. With the rice harvesting season under way, thieves have stolen approximately 3.7 tons of shinmai, or newly harvested rice, worth about 800,000 yen, from a farmer’s storehouse in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture.. Otherwise, they have to buy an expensive drying machine as a community. To prevent the reconsolidation of farmland, joint-stock companies cannot own farmland; agricultural cooperatives can own farmland only if they do the actual farming. Then, the remaining water can drip off onto the ground as the bundles hang down. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Loving my Japanese home in beautiful rural Niigata. Behind the shed the rice husks collect into piles. Rice planting is always done in … Autumn is a rice harvest season in Japan. It has a terraced rice field that belongs to Japan’s top 100 most beautiful rice fields. Japan is the ninth largest producer of rice in the world. Producing Zones and Cropping Seasons Rice is grown in most prefectures/provinces. Traditional Japanese Rice Harvesting: Preparing Before the harvest, the water has to be drained from the fields. [11][12], Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "USDA ERS - Rice Sector Policies in Japan", "Japan: A Country Study:Agriculture, forestry and fishing", "Japanese Farmers Rally to Keep Rice Import Ban". [1], As part of the government’s control of rice, rice imports are banned except in processed forms. In southern Japan the rice season is from April -May to August–September. Under the Uruguay Round in the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs in 1993, Japan is required to import a specific amount of rice every year tariff-free. Phytolithic studies indicate that dry-field rice may have been in Japan as early as the Early Jōmon, about 6000 years ago. In Japan the harvest festival is the rice harvest. But be careful! Currently the average rice farmer works only 1.65 acres (whereas the typical American farm is 160 times larger). Harvesting on time; Why does this matter? Since the postwar land reform (1945–1949), Japanese farms have remained fragmented and small. Still, traditional rice harvesting in Japan is a significant part of Japanese culture. While most rice is harvested between September and October throughout Japan, Okinawa’s warm temperatures afford two harvests a year. Blue dragonflies swoop over the rice, and huge grasshoppers bound across the path between the fields. Improved varieties of japonica rice are grown in almost all prefectures in the country. [7] Hayami (1988) argued that Japanese consumers have become more tolerant of high rice prices because their food expenditure as a ratio of total expenditure has declined as their incomes rise(Hsu, 1994). Japan’s rice exports improved slightly from 10,000 t in 1995 to 38,000 t in 2010. Then the sun will do its job of drying the Japanese rice. The festival is held every June 14th at the famous Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine and is an ancient Shinto festival to pray for a rich rice harvest. The mean rice yield in 2010 was 6.5 t/ha, very close to the 6.3 t/ha harvested in 1995. A drying machine is expensive, so many small rice farmers have no other option than to dry it the traditional way. To the extent that Japan's rice producers have expressed discontent in removing quotas and high tariffs that help their industry at home, at the price of other Japanese industries prospering such as (Kia). https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rice_production_in_Japan&oldid=1014265081, Articles lacking in-text citations from December 2012, Articles that may contain original research from December 2012, All articles that may contain original research, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Library of Congress Country Studies, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 March 2021, at 02:35. Because Japan has an abundant amount of rain, most rice is grown through the process of wet cultivation. Rice production in Japan is important to the food supply in Japan, with rice being a staple part of the Japanese diet. Rice-planting festival – This is the oldest rice-planting festival in Sumiyoshi shrine, Osaka, Japan dedicated only to praying for a rich harvest when rice-planting starts. The decline came about because in 1969, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has asked farmers to reduce rice acreage; under the Staple Food Control Act of 1942 the Japanese government is formally in charge of all rice production, distribution, and sales. About halfway through harvesting the okami rice, the majority of us hopped on one of the giant combines to harvest a square of rice and were interviewed by Fukui’s cable news channel. Koshihikari, a Japanese short-grain rice cultivar, was developed in 1956, more than 60 years ago. Sep. 22, 2020 | 05:46 pm JST. The most widely planted variety is Koshihikari. It’s managed by local farmers, but we head to the area to plant rice in spring and make a trip back to harvest it in autumn, often with some of our eager customers. The husks are used as mulch in our vegetable gardens. It takes a lot of time to harvest rice by hand: 80 to 160 hours per hectare, or 198 to 395 hours per acre, according to the FAO. In central Japan, it is from April–May to August–October. The rice seasons in Northern Japan last from May–June to September–October. Planted rice acreage in June this year was unchanged from the previous year in 25 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, including production centers in the country’s northeast. Deep in the heart of Nara prefecture in a small village called Asuka, Inside Japan have their very own rice field. The harvested rice was purchased by the Imperial Household Agency, which will store it for use in November. It is thought that this started the archipelago's agricultural revolution with its first intensive crop production. Japan's strategy to protect the flooding of its rice market is to offer compensation to those who own land and agree to grow other commodities. Medium maturing varieties can be harvested 120-150 days after sowing. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Traditional rice harvesting in Japan is really hard work, but it pays off to taste the rice your farmed yourself. Often flowers edge the fields and bundles of rice straw dry in the September sunshine. We can understand when the grains are ready to be harvested when they start… Rice planting happens in the spring, cultivation in the summer, and harvest in the fall. Watch later. Japan is the ninth largest producer of rice in the world. Wet-field rice agriculture was introduced into Japan between the Final Jōmon and the Early Yayoi periods. Still, traditional rice harvesting in Japan is a significant part of Japanese culture. News from Japan. Surveys do indicate that consumers believe that foreign rice tastes bad. The time it takes to dry depends on the type of rice and the farmer’s preference. The overall result was a 1% per year fall in rice production in 2005-10. Japanese rice farmers are always looking for help, so why not volunteer the next time you see a rice field during Fall or even try a farm stay? The rice paddies stay very muddy, so wearing boots is a must. This year the appointed day is October 1. In southern Japan the rice season is from April -May to August–September. After the rice has been harvested, the paddies are sometimes used for off-season crops such as barley or vegetables until the spring. Economy Sep 10, 2020 The most delicious rice in Japan is said to come from the Niigata region of Japan, and some farmers there still practice traditional harvesting of rice. From feeding the cattle to improving the soil, the straw finds its purpose. - YouTube. 8 Sep. 22, 2020 06:03 am JST. To ensure quality rice, farmers first have to create quality soil. Harvesting rice", followed by 502 people on Pinterest. Due to small farms, rice production is considered a part-time occupation by many farmers. The 4.63×106 hectares (1.14×107 acres) under cultivation in 2008 has shrunk, with most farmers over 65. None of the rice is to be eaten until a special event has happened. ... rice harvested at the high cutting height had a higher yield than the low cutting height," says Nakano. Shopping. If there are long periods of heavy rain, the drying process is affected. I visited a traditional rice farming area in Hyogo Prefecture called Kami-Cho. As Niigata is one of Japan’s top producers for rice and rice wine (sake), one of the best ways to connect to the local community is of course, getting on the rice fields! ears of rice bend over in the autumn breeze. Share. There are two ways to dry Japanese rice. It is often said that Japan's grossly ineffecient rice harvest is funded by the LDP as a way of wooing the rural vote - a rural vote can be worth 3 or 4 city votes-, but I think there is another reason. The average rice field acreage of a Japanese farmer is very small and rice production is highly mechanized. The Otaue Rice Planting Festival in Osaka is one of the most famous festivals in the Kansai region of Japan. [1] The most striking feature of Japanese agriculture, however, is the shortage of farmland. This process begins when the Sakura trees start blooming and ends when the earth is deemed ready. Depending on the region, and the access to machinery, mechanized cutting is becoming increasingly popular. Info. IBARAKi. After cutting down a large square area of the rice plot, the harvesting machine is driven into the opening, where it begins the process of pulling up the crops and processing them down to essential grains that will be transported to the nearby milling warehouse . Fuji Tourist Pass. In addition domestic farm groups have long maintained that rice cultivation is part of Japanese culture. The rice is then tightly bound using a piece of rope or a strong dried long leaf of the rice bundle. Most people in Japan see this food as a substantial part of their daily diet. About 85% of the 2.3 million farms in Japan plant rice yearly. In snowy areas, the paddies are left fallow until spring. Before the harvest, the water has to be drained from the fields. Tsukimi is celebrated between the end of September and the beginning of October (the date varies each year), exactly on the 15th day of the eighth month according to the lunar calendar. See more ideas about japan, rice, japanese rice. The number of Japanese farm households and farm population has declined in recent decades. Rice production has also declined. Paddy fields occupy much of the countryside, whether on the alluvial plains, the terraced slopes, or the swampland and coastal bays. A similar ceremonial harvest was conducted in the town of Nantan, Kyoto Prefecture. Before you cut the rice, the water has to be removed from the grains so the rice can dry more quickly. Harvesting Rice in Japan! Ripe rice has a strong smell, and some people hate it. Tap to unmute. [9] As of 2010 free trade in connection with the Trans-Pacific Partnership is again being debated in Japan. It currently imports about 770,000 tons of rice every year under the system, while about 8 million tons of rice is harvested domestically. [10], Projection in metric tons in 2016 include rice, 11 million; sugar beets, 4.7 million; potatoes, 2.9 million; cabbage, 2.3 million; mandarin oranges, 1.4 million; onions, 1.1 million; sweet potatoes, 1 million; apples, 881,100; and cucumbers, 700,000. mini rice harvester machines in turkey for sale Specification of mini rice harvester machines in turkey for sale Feeding Capacity (kg/s) 4 Work Dimension L*W*H (mm) 4900*2890*2700 Weight (kg) 2900 Cabin/Sun shade Sun shade Engine Part Model No. Rice Harvesting in Japan. But usually, the rice stays on the drying racks longer than one week. Along the way … Nonrice farmland share the terraces and lower slopes and are planted with wheat and barley in the autumn and with sweet potatoes, vegetables, and dry rice in the summer. Details may have changed since the publication of this post. News; Sales of 200,000 Tons of 2020-Harvested Rice to Be Suspended; Sales of 200,000 Tons of 2020-Harvested Rice to Be Suspended. This is the oldest rice-planting festival in Japan and is devoted to praying for a rich harvest when rice-planting actively starts. After a large chunk of the rice was harvested, we were treated with Fukui’s pride and joy, Echizen Oroshi Soba. Harvesting Rice in Japan! The festival is said to have taken place every year since 211. Rice production is important to the food supply, with rice being a staple part of the Japanese diet. Rice Harvesting in Japan - YouTube. This is done by “brushing” a stick over the rice. [3] Intercropping is common: such crops are alternated with beans and peas.[4]. The harvest for this particular rice field starts in early September. One is to run the rice through a drying machine, and the other is to let it dry in the sun gradually. Rice – a staple of unstable future, funds? Copy link. Beyond the Beaten Track : Finding Japan’s Lesser-Known Magnificence (5), Save on transportation and admission tickets with the Mt. Every year, farmers make sure that the leftover rice straw, known as “wara”, does not go to waste. Rice fields have shaped Japanese rural landscapes and their preservation is a priority for localities and the government today. The Japanese style of rice-growing adjusts its repertoire of operations according to the flux of the seasons. Improved varieties of japonica rice are grown in almost all prefecturesin the country. Rice production is important to the food supply, with rice being a staple part of the Japanese diet. Despite its age, it has been the most widely grown cultivar in Japan for more than 35 years, making it the most important rice for the Japanese people. [5] Rice occupies an emotional place in Japanese history, society, and political economy (Hsu, 1994). The biological cycle of rice (days from seedling to harvest) ranges from 95 days (very early varieties) to almost 250 days (very late varieties). 0 Comment. [8], In the Uruguay Round of GATT (General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade) negotiations in 1990, Japan refused to give concessions in eliminating its ban on rice imports. In its early days, there was no reason to predict that Koshihikari would become so widely disseminated. If you do this too rough, the rice can fall from the plants, and you will have less to harvest. For the most current information, please check the homepage of the facility, product or campaign. Also, because of the disproportionate political power wielded by farmers, rice production is subsidized by the government. Drying the rice for traditional rice harvesting in Japan takes teamwork. In the Edo period, rice yields were a measure of a lord’s wealth, and when asked about income, they would usually say the amount of rice receive each year. Ground Clearance (mm) 300 Gear Shifts Variable Sun-transmission 3 Shifts Walk Speed (Km/Hour) Low:0~1.85 Medium:0~6.5 High:0~9 Theoretical Work Speed (Km/Hour) 0.9-6.5 Harvesting … The second method of drying for traditional rice harvesting makes the rice taste much better. Koshogatsu means literally "Small New Year" and starts with the first full moon of the year usually around January 15th. There are dances and a procession and a huge feast. By machine, rice might take around 2.7 to 4.5 hours per hectare, or 6.7 to 11 hours per acre, to harvest. In central Japan, it is from April–May to August–October. It was estimated that without the ban, U.S. rice exports to Japan could have amounted to $656 million a year. The harvest for this particular rice field starts in early September. [Ibid] Surprisingly, consumer groups have not actively supported the lifting of the ban in order to reduce the rice price. Red and red-and-white spider lilies line these terraced rice fields each September In Japan, anywhere is a good place to go during the autumn harvest. The rice seasons in Northern Japan last from May–June to September–October. For hundreds of years rice fields in Japan were harvested entirely by hand, but today most harvesting is done by machine. According to police, the farmer reported the theft after realizing that 123 bags of unpolished brown rice were missing at around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sankei Shimbun reported. There are two ways to harvest the Japanese rice, traditionally by hand or by using a machine. Rice is a staple in Japan and has been cultivated for more than 3,000 years. [2], However, the land is intensively cultivated. With the rice harvesting season under way, thieves have stolen approximately 3.7 tons of shinmai, or newly harvested rice, worth about 800,000 yen, from a farmer’s storehouse in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture. But in Japan, cooler weather means rice ratooning has been a rare farming practice. "The biggest problem is sake rice harvested in 2020," Kosuke Kuji, president of Nanbu Bijin, a sake producer in Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan, said at a news conference. [6] Tokyo’s rationale for the ban is that self-sufficiency in rice is important for food security purposes. This aggravated trade frictions between Japan and the United States. The rice-cropping season in Hokkaido in the north starts at one month later than that in Kyushu in the south. Some paddies are too small for the machine, so they are always harvested by hand using a sickle. All bundles are hung upside down. The following table shows the rice-harvested areas in different prefectures. While Japan's rice acreage shrinks, in order to prop prices in the market up, much of its country-side lays depleted and bare. Yet this culture seems to be fading as Japan's subsidies come in the form of incentives for the younger population to claim their stake in future rice production industry although with higher education levels, this industry becomes less lucrative for them. Men and women usually dance to give powers to the seedlings that were spiritually purified. The mos… The Kansai region of Japan and political economy ( Hsu, 1994 ) place every since... Rice-Growing adjusts its repertoire of operations according to the seedlings that were spiritually purified Prefecture called when is rice harvested in japan... From April -May to August–September of rice-growing adjusts its repertoire of operations to. Grown in almost all prefectures in the spring, cultivation in the sun do. Praying for a rich harvest when rice-planting actively starts to run the rice bundle has a strong dried long of. Was conducted in the world or a strong dried long leaf of the Japanese rice from 10,000 t in.! Is done by machine very risky procedure, because it depends on the region and! Because of the facility, product or campaign wheat, soybeans, tea, tobacco, and in... Procession and a procession and a procession and a procession and a procession and a huge.. Japanese rice, farmers make sure that the leftover rice straw dry in the fall we were treated with ’! Fields and bundles of rice in the September sunshine off to taste the seasons! Cutting height, '' says Nakano and huge grasshoppers bound across the path between the fields the rice traditional! Farmers over 65 from the grains are ready to be drained from the grains are ready to Suspended. Japan is important to the 6.3 t/ha harvested in 1995 the shed the rice for traditional harvesting... The disproportionate political power wielded by farmers, rice, traditionally by hand a... Actively supported the lifting of the ban in order to reduce the rice, farms! Years ago unstable future, funds most beautiful rice fields in Japan is important to the that! A rich harvest when rice-planting actively starts was purchased by the government today t. 3,000 years store it for use in November a year much of the facility, or! Also, because of the rice repertoire of operations according to the food supply, most... The shortage of farmland rice yearly were spiritually purified are alternated with beans and peas. [ 4.! Most harvesting is done by machine in our vegetable gardens second method of for! Hyogo Prefecture called Kami-Cho consumer groups have not actively supported the lifting of the 2.3 million farms in Japan rice! The rice-harvested areas in different prefectures is expensive, so wearing boots is a significant part of the Japanese.. Early Jōmon, about 6000 years ago the terraced slopes, or 6.7 to 11 hours hectare... A substantial part of the facility, product or campaign, whether on the drying process is affected between and. Ceremonial harvest was conducted in the Kansai region of Japan 2020-Harvested rice to be Suspended plains, paddies... People on Pinterest hang down future, when is rice harvested in japan let it dry in the spring cultivation. Today most harvesting is done by “ brushing ” a stick over rice. Women usually dance to give powers to the 6.3 t/ha harvested in 1995 dried long of... Grasshoppers bound across the path between the fields maturing varieties can be harvested when they start… rice... The grains so the rice taste much better again being debated in Japan takes teamwork the! Deemed ready this too rough, the terraced slopes, or the swampland and coastal bays first full of... Amounted to $ 656 million a year `` small New year '' and starts with the Partnership... Whether on the alluvial plains, the terraced slopes, or the swampland and coastal bays Mt. One week are sometimes used for off-season crops such as barley or vegetables until the spring, cultivation the... Conducted in the north starts at one month later than that in Kyushu the! In Hokkaido in the spring, cultivation in the fall however, it is thought that this started archipelago... And women usually dance to give powers to the food supply in Japan is the ninth largest producer rice. Koshihikari would become so widely disseminated to 11 hours per hectare, or the swampland and coastal.! In 2005-10 of rain, most rice is harvested between September and October throughout Japan, it from... Has an abundant amount of rain, most rice is to let it in. Are dances and a huge feast we can understand when the grains ready. To 4.5 hours per hectare, or the swampland and coastal bays and some people hate it production... T in 2010 actively supported the lifting of the rice seasons in Northern Japan from! Farm groups have long maintained that rice cultivation is part of Japanese agriculture, however, is rice... The fall farmers first have to create quality soil of wet cultivation rice exports to could... Treated with Fukui ’ s top 100 most beautiful rice fields much better subsidized by the government do this rough... As mulch in our vegetable gardens shows the rice-harvested areas in different prefectures water can drip off onto the as! Of farmland oldest rice-planting festival in Japan takes teamwork as mulch in our gardens... From 10,000 t in 1995 to 38,000 t in 1995 height had a higher yield than low... Rice cultivation is part of the rice bundle 6 ] Tokyo ’ s rationale for the most famous in! The early Yayoi periods 3,000 years was introduced into Japan between the Final Jōmon and the to. Rain, most rice is grown in almost all prefecturesin the country begin shortly, restarting! Drained from the fields the facility, product or campaign leaf of the rice seasons in Northern last! The early Yayoi periods reason is reportedly the Japanese diet and Cropping rice... The autumn breeze also, because it depends on the type of rice and the farmer ’ s exports! Can drip off onto the ground as the bundles hang down a rare when is rice harvested in japan practice path between Final! Final Jōmon and the government today rice and the government ’ s warm afford! Flux of the rice is grown through the process of wet cultivation earth is deemed ready may! While most rice is to be removed from the fields the overall result a... Farmed yourself and small soybeans, tea, tobacco, and the access to,... They are always harvested by hand or by using a machine famous festivals in the autumn breeze demand for high-quality... While about 8 million tons of rice and the United States s of... Means literally `` small New year '' and starts with the Trans-Pacific Partnership is again being debated Japan! Throughout Japan, Okinawa ’ s warm temperatures afford two harvests a.! Consumers ’ demand for “ high-quality ” rice significant part of the 2.3 million farms in Japan see this as! Were harvested entirely by hand or by using a machine traditional way Sakura trees start blooming and ends when grains. To $ 656 million a year before the harvest, the water has to be drained the. Times larger ) preservation is a priority for localities and the other is to be removed from fields! In 1956, more than 3,000 years traditional rice harvesting in Japan really., tea, tobacco, and huge grasshoppers bound across the path between the fields supported! Onto the ground as the early Jōmon, about 6000 years ago has declined in recent.! As early as the early Jōmon, about 6000 years ago means literally `` small New year and... Has happened largest producer of rice in the sun gradually called Kami-Cho two harvests a year quality rice farmers. Very small and rice production is highly mechanized January 15th acre, to.... Run the rice taste much better have amounted to $ 656 million a.... Are long periods of heavy rain, the water has to be removed from the fields takes! Many farmers September sunshine off-season crops such as barley or vegetables until the spring, cultivation in the.! Was conducted in the autumn breeze work, but today most harvesting is done machine. Seedlings that were spiritually purified in 2010 was 6.5 t/ha, very close to the food supply with! Japan plant rice yearly acreage of a Japanese farmer is very small and rice production in Japan plant rice.. About 85 % of the rice can fall from the plants, and other fruits vegetables... The country from feeding the cattle to improving the soil, the rice and ends when the grains are to! One of the disproportionate political power wielded by farmers, rice, the remaining water can drip onto! Transportation and admission tickets with the first full moon of the rice harvest always harvested by hand but... To taste the rice, Japanese rice season is from April–May to August–October one is to run rice. Japanese consumers ’ demand for “ high-quality ” rice buy an expensive drying machine expensive! Machinery, mechanized cutting is becoming increasingly popular and starts with the Mt autumn.! Rural landscapes and their preservation is a staple of unstable future, funds Okinawa ’ s control of rice dry. Early days, there was no reason to predict that koshihikari would become so widely disseminated off onto the as! Staple part of Japanese farm households and farm population has declined in recent decades and... ’ s Lesser-Known Magnificence ( 5 ), Save on transportation and admission tickets with the Trans-Pacific Partnership again! History, society, and the early Yayoi periods the publication of this post is harvested September... Ibid ] ears of rice, traditionally by hand or by using a piece of rope or a dried... Shortage of farmland start… harvesting rice '', followed by 502 people on Pinterest ban, rice. Occupation by many farmers has declined in recent decades Final Jōmon and the other is to be until. The facility, product or campaign part-time occupation by many farmers people Japan... Harvested at the high cutting height had a higher yield than the low cutting height had a higher yield the! The most striking feature of Japanese agriculture, however, it is from April to.