Season of shinmai (new rice) 2015/10/04

Autumn in Japan is often called as the season of harvest. There are various kinds of tasty fruits and nuts in autumn, such as a pear, a persimmon, an apple, a chestnut, a walnut and so on.

However it is beyond question that shinmai (new rice) represents all kinds of autumn harvests.

Rice has been the main food among most Japanese for around 2000 years.

In spring, at the time of cherry blossoms, farmers start to grow young rice in seedbeds, in early summer they plant seedlings in paddy fields. During hot sticky summer rice grows and blooms a little white flower, then bear fruits in autumn.

During rainy season in June and July there is a danger of various persistent insects. In cold and wet summer there is fear of shortage of sunshine, while in hot and dry summer there is fear of water shortage.  In autumn they often have typhoons which destroy  farmer’s all efforts at last.

The harvest of new rice is by no means the biggest achievement and the utmost relieve for farmers which can be obtainable only after long continuous hard work.

 

I have just received new rice from Sado island in Niigata prefecture where they grow rice in paddy fields free from any pesticides and chemical fertilizers. In the paddy fields Japanese Crested Ibis which is classified as an endangered bird are enjoying their lives.

hqdefault　Ibis in a paddy field