The technique of growing rice was introduced from China to Japan about 2,400 to 2,500 years ago. Over 2000 year old prehistoric sites of rice fields have been discovered in several different locations in Japan. When ancient people began to grow the rice, the population grew dramatically and villages began to occur, the leader evolved, all the villages together created the foundation for the country of Japan.Growing rice required great teamwork, which developed cultural events such as celebrating harvest, protecting rice fields, dancing for the rain if there were droughts etc. The country of Japan evolved around rice farming. Japanese culture has also been created around rice farming. Therefore, Rice is part of the foundation of Japan and Japanese culture. By the seventh century it was firmly established as the staple food and has remained so until today.
Japanese cooking has developed around rice as the main food. Japanese people have developed a deep appreciation of the importance of rice and love of its delicate textures and flavours. There are several different kind of rice and a number of types of products such as Sake, Mirin, Vinegar and Miso have been created. Mainly Japanese people eat short grain rice. People began to eat white rice during the shogun period, the same time that Sushi was created as a way of preserving rice. Japanese ancestor’s rice is the wholegrain Brown rice.
It is fascinating to see how the country evolved around the food of rice. Therefore Japanese people have full respect of rice as a main food. Niiname-Sai, there is special ceremony demonstrated on behalf of Emperor to present fresh harvested brown rice to the Grand Shrine of Ise on November 23rd, This day became Thanksgiving day in Japan. The Emperor also enjoyed fresh harvested brown rice. Rice is deeply appreciated and respected as foundation of our life in Japan.
Its incredible how much the development of human cultures is linked with food. Farming is the most important way to get food in the ancient history and created farming culture in Japan. As an island country, a rich variety of seafood is available throughout the year. Meat was forbidden food according to Buddhism and Shintoism until the end of the Shogun period in the mid nineteenth century. Today meat has become popular and at the same time people are beginning to be concerned with consciousness of wellness, therefore many people are beginning to cut down their meat intake, as they are in the US.
During the World War II, My father was sent to China, and the hard battlefields of war and came home safe, I have no idea how he survived. It was a miracle. During the war my mother told me there was nothing to eat. My grandfather worked in a government office. She was a young woman, she would pack up her kimono and take an over-crowded train to visit farmer for exchange of the brown rice and sweet potato.
My father told me over and over again, don’t worry War will never happened again. He kept a water bottle, perhaps saved his life during the war, to remember the battle of the war. I was a little girl, and didn’t understand why such an old thing was so important to him.
After the war, Japan began to grow the rice again and developed special kind of rice to grow Northern Hokkaido Island to Southern Okinawa island to mountains, Rice can grow anywhere in Japan. That is how much the country of Japan respected Rice. As rice started to grow again, Japanese people were being nourished, and worked very hard to re-establish the entire nation. The Rest is history. Not only that but also Japan declare the Permanent Peace after the Atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Rice (Grain) symbolises the Peace in Japan and perhaps everywhere in the world. I am grateful that we have a variety of foods to enjoy cooking each and everyday. Cooking creates life. Foods nourish our body. What a great energy is in the grain of rice.
Farmers worked very hard to take good care of the rice from early spring to harvest of fall. The Sun energy, the Earth energy, the Water energy is condensed into the grain (as it is for vegetables and fruits) After the harvest, Rice is stored in a warehouse, packed, carried by the boat, train and truck to the store. It passes through so many people’s hands. All that energy is also condensed into the rice and foods we eat.
Then the final touch is in the cooking!
Put all your love energy into cooking. How fascinating it is! Cooking connects us with Nature. Wholegrain Rice creates Love and Peace.
Genmai (Brown rice)
Rice is the main staple of Japan and people are beginning to eat more Wholegrain Brown Rice. Short grain rice is mainly eaten in Japan. Genmai (Brown rice) retains bran and germ and only the husk is removed. It is the most nutritious rice and high in fibre, and very easy to cook with a pressure cooker. Brown rice has a nutty sweet flavour.
Cooking: Boil, pressure cooked, soup, sauté, salad, bake, deep-fried. As the staple food of Japan, rice is served in a different way for every meal. Rice is used as the main food with soup and other foods as side dishes.
Medicinal use: energy source.
Spiritually: to ground us.
A strong energy food.
Mochigome (Sweet Brown rice)
The short, opaque grain and glutinous rice is very sticky and sweet after it has cooked. It has a high sugar content. Cooked sweet brown rice can be pounded to make Mochi (rice cakes) and Senben (rice crackers). Sweet brown rice is the main ingredient to make Mirin and Amazake.
