MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Oryza sativa, or otherwise known as rice, is one of the world's most devoured foods, and has fed civilizations for thousands of years.
In one such familiar civilization, rice influenced the culture greatly, and at one point was used as a currency. The term for rice in Japanese is 'gohan,' which ironically is the same word for meal.
Instead of simply reading about Japanese history and culture, Station residents from the Japanese American Society enjoyed the experience first hand by harvesting rice from a farm in Kitagoochi, Oct. 2.
"Because of the flood from Typhoon Nabi, the rice couldn't be cut by machines and had to be cut manually with sickles," said Diane M. Dill, information specialist at M.C. Perry Elementary and native of Irving, Texas. "We wanted to see how the rice was harvested and experience it first hand. The farmer needed the labor, making it mutually beneficial for both of us."
Residents ranging from the young and old helped out in the harvest. The amateur harvesters put on their white gloves and grabbed their sickles, curved handheld agricultural tools, and began to cut through the grass at the root.
"Harvesting rice is like chopping down really big grass with a little knife," said Andrew D. Hoisington, native of Oak Harbor, Wash.
After the rice was cut, it was bundled and aligned in rows like rifle stacks back at the drill field. The entire process was very long and tedious.
"After awhile, it got pretty tiring to cut the rice over and over again," said Hoisington. "Working in the rice paddy gave me a better understanding of where rice comes from."
Once they finished cutting the rice, all of the bundles were left on the ground ready to be hung on a hand-built bamboo rack to dry.
The whole experience was uplifting and enlightening, giving the volunteers a lesson in Japanese culture and history.
"We live in a farming community and see it everyday outside our car windows," said Dill. "Being able to experience harvesting the rice first hand, brought out the little farm girl in me."
"Being able to harvest rice is a great opportunity to see how they have done this for the past few thousand years," said Doug Hoisington, native of Huntsville, Ala. "It was a great way to connect with Japan's past."