誕生日と稲刈り My Birthday and Rice Harvest!

It was quite a busy weekend,  my first birthday in Japan was wonderful.  Thursday morning I started my birthday off right with two Japanese vocabulary tests!  Initially I had nothing planned for the night as I had quite a bit of homework to focus on, however, some of my friends surprised me with a party and cake!  It happened to be both my and my Taiwanese friend Joanna's birthday, so a group of friends planned a party for us, it was so much fun and I was so happy that I was able to spend my birthday with good company.  I have put a few pictures below of the group.  Then, last night I went into Akita city for a fun night consisting of a delicious noodle shop, some karaoke, and of course the famous 秋田の日本酒 (Aki-ta Ni-hon-shu) Akita sake.  As many of you already know, Akita is famous throughout Japan for its delicious rice, and therefore the sake made here is among the best.  Appropriately, after a night of enjoying the final product of many of the surrounding swaying fields of rice, this morning I woke up early to participate in a traditional rice harvest.  So, I can now truly appreciate how much work goes into the sake and rice I have been able to enjoy!

The harvest was a fantastic experience!  I of course took my tree farming and hay bailing skills with me and was ready to be a hard working representative of the States.  It turns out rice harvesting is quite different than bailing hay :P  Initially, I had a struggle learning how to do the special wrap, roll, spin and twist motion in order to tie the stalks together.  However, after some help from some very patient farmers, I caught on to it and now many of my peers and a few of the faculty that were with us on the trip are convinced that in a previous life I was a professional rice harvester.  I was very excited when, halfway through the harvest, the local farmers gave me a smile and nod of approval and asked me to help teach a few of the other students!  This of course would not have happened if it hadn't been for the very, very patient farmer who helped get me into the swing of things.

The process itself is called 稲刈り(ine-ka-ri).  You start by cutting three groups of rice stalks at the base and then laying them together with the bottoms of the stalks propped on a previously cut base.  Then you cut another group of three and lay them over the other stalks at a slight angle.  This part is simple.  However, then you select three individuals stalks and use them to tie the base together in a special motion which keeps the ends all pointing the same direction.  It is hard to explain but it is really a neat thing to watch. After harvesting the field you then take each bushel and hang it to dry.  In a few weeks the rice will be ready to process and we will go back to take part in the last steps of the process.  The rice that we all harvested today will actually be given to us when we finish the process, so we will have the chance to taste fresh rice!  It was a wonderful experience and eye-opening as well.  It is quite amazing to see how much labor goes into the process, as I mentioned in a previous entry, to see the balance between the harmony with nature and the struggle in contending with it is a special and humbling experience.

I really have absolutely loved going out into the small farming communities in the surrounding area.  It has been such a great experience.  I am so thankful to everyone who has helped me along the way in getting here, for all of my friends who have made me feel at home here, to the faculty and staff, and to the local community members who have shared their culture with me.  Thank you everyone for your kindness and support.