1. What is rice planting?
Rice planting is when people grow rice in a field. Farmers usually start by growing small rice plants called seedlings. Then they use specialized machines to plant the seedlings into the wet muddy fields, called paddies. The water in the paddies helps the rice grow and keeps away weeds and bugs.
People plant rice for both practical and cultural reasons. In Japan, rice is a staple food that’s commonly eaten at breakfast, lunch and dinner. But beyond its importance in daily meals, rice planting is also a meaningful tradition that brings communities together. Taking part in rice planting allows people to connect with the land, build relationships and help preserve a valuable part of Japanese heritage. I also learned from a Japanese student that rice planting is a common school activity—many children go on field trips to rice paddies to experience planting rice for themselves.
2. Was it your first time planting rice?
Yes! This was my first time planting rice.
