The rice harvest has just started around my place.
Can’t wait new crop.
Why do Japanese people love rice so much?
Rice tells Japanese soul
According to Japanese mythology,
Sun Goddess (Amaterasu Oomikami) , she gave one of god childrne order to harvest rice palnts on earth.
His name is Hono ninigi’ which means a good rice harvest.
So we believe rice is a gift from God.
Therefore, Japanese mothers or teachers tell children to be grateful for nature and farmers and
make sure to eat all your rice in your bowl.
People said if you leave even one grain of rice in your bowl, you’ll go blind in old times.
Also they said there are Gods in each grain of rice and we have to treasure even one grain of rice.
Red-bean rice (seki-han) is made of sticky rice
(mochi)with little red beans.
The red color is rumored to have the power
to drive out bad spirits.
So People make red-bean rice
for special happy moment.
“Itadakimasu”
We give thanks with the word “itadakimasu,
which expresses our thanks for the bounty of nature
(plants, animals, farmers, everything!), and life itself.
We are linked to natural living creatures through rice.
Times have changed.
Bread become so popular among young people (I love it, too).
Fast food and instant food are available on every corner,
but we hope rice remains the food that ties together people and nature, as well as people and people.
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