Rice Harvesting Experience (Zero Sake Project)

[Zero Sake Project]

This year we went to the terraced rice paddies of Yotsuya to harvest rice

The weather that day — which might have been canceled for rain — cleared up perfectly, turning into a blazing autumn sky so sunny I was drenched in sweat, "you didn't have to be this clear!"

Since it had been raining right up until just before, the mud was severe, and my boots got stuck — unable to move, I fell into the sludge twice! Haha

The work wasn't progressing, so I took off my boots and went barefoot, splashing through.

There were crabs, frogs, and bugs around, but I was so absorbed in playing in the mud that I paid them no mind. I felt like a child again — it was great fun!

Since machinery can't enter, everything was done by hand

We cut the rice with sickles, tied the sheaves with straw, carried the bundles, and hung them to dry.

Once the rice has dried, we'll use it to brew a sake of our own liking!

This is an activity called the "Zero Sake Project." Thanks to the wonderful character of Mr. Maruchi, the founder of the Happy Land Project, everyone on the team is a passionate, wonderful person! This time I was invited by my fellow member Yuka-chan — one of the drinking ladies — and joined in.

Happy Land Project

https://sites.google.com/view/zerosakeproject

The Happy Land Project blog is here

https://happyland.dosugoi.net/e956010.html

I joined this harvest on short notice, but the other members — from planting to weeding and care — always work so hard; thank you so much. It was thanks to everyone's loving care that we were able to cut the rice like this.

After working up a sweat, we enjoyed handmade gohei-mochi and the local specialty kawa-gimo itame, grilled over a BBQ. It was absolutely delicious!

Going through hard work like this, I feel once again grateful for the fact that our staple food and sake are made this way. I felt the spirit of being Japanese.

To all the farmers and the brewers — thank you so much for protecting Japan's precious culture for all these years.