Exploring the Symbolism of Rice and Changing Dietary Patterns in Japan

 

Rice harvesting season has commenced in Japan. Historically, the Japanese population has subsisted on rice, resulting in the emergence of several rice-related proverbs. One such adage is “Minoru hodo koube wo tareru inaho kana,” whose author remains unknown. This adage can be translated into English as “The more a rice plant bears fruit, the more its ear of rice bows its head downward.” Its essence is akin to the idiomatic expressions “The boughs that bear most hang lowest” or “The more noble, the more humble.” Numerous Japanese individuals nurture an innate desire to embrace this principle. Interestingly, due to shifting dietary preferences in Japan over recent decades, there has been a noteworthy transformation. Specifically, in terms of monetary consumption within multi-person households, the consumption of bread surpassed that of rice in 2013, and this disparity has consistently widened over time.

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