Synopsis

For over two millennia, rice has formed the very heart of life in Japan. Indeed, one traditional name for the country is mizuho no kuni—"the Land of Abundant Rice." As explored in this edition of Japanology Plus, the transition from a hunter-gatherer existence to agriculture during the Yayoi period saw communities coalesce around rice paddies, fostering the cooperation essential for a bountiful harvest. This fundamental organizational structure established a bedrock for Japanese society, and its