{"id":2085,"date":"2016-06-06T18:00:27","date_gmt":"2016-06-07T01:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zojirushi.com\/blog\/?p=2085"},"modified":"2022-01-05T16:31:01","modified_gmt":"2022-01-06T00:31:01","slug":"what-is-rice-really-the-tradition-of-growing-short-grain-rice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zojirushi.com\/blog\/what-is-rice-really-the-tradition-of-growing-short-grain-rice\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Rice Really?: The Tradition of Growing Short-Grain Rice"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"taue\"<\/p>\n

Growing short-grain rice in Japan is critical to feeding the people of the country and feeding the spirit of its traditions. We continue our series from last month about growing short-grain rice with a look at how it is harvested and the traditions that embody the hopes of the Japanese people as they cultivate this important crop.<\/p>\n

As we discussed in our previous post, rice is cultivated in four stages: sprouting, planting, growing and harvesting. Once rice is mature, usually at the end of summer, rice fields are allowed to dry in the sun or are drained. Harvesting machines, such as combines, gather and thresh the mature rice, so that rice seeds can be transported to drying facilities. Once at the drying facilities, warm air is forced through the rice to remove moisture so it can be stored and further processed. The dried rice is sent to mills where it is cleaned and dehulled, leaving the nutritious bran layer intact, resulting in brown rice. The brown rice is then packaged and sent to market or further polished to remove the bran layer, resulting in white rice. This short-grain white rice is also packaged and sent to market, where it is purchased by home cooks and chefs alike. By the time the rice reaches a person\u2019s plate, it has been touched by many hands and by many days in the sun, water and wind!<\/p>\n

Growing rice is a very important part of Japanese culture, and Japanese people participate in rich traditions that celebrate the entire process from initial planting to the harvest.<\/p>\n

During the planting season in spring, the people of Sumiyoshi, in Osaka, believe that an auspicious beginning to the season will help the rice grow. To create a happy atmosphere that fosters good energy for the year\u2019s crop, the community asks eight ceremonial maidens, called ue-me<\/em>, to sanctify the rice seedlings at the local shrine. These blessed seedlings are given to the shimo ue-me<\/em>, another group of women who participate in the festival, to plant them in the rice field to begin the season.<\/p>\n

This elaborate and beautiful play is a delight to watch:<\/p>\n