Rice growers pin hope on new varieties

By Hisashi Kawamura

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jason6 at 09:39 AM JST - 30th September

anybody who has eaten a particular brand/type of something their whole life can easily tell the difference when the flavor is change even slightly. you need many years of eating to figure out all the subtleties of rice, plus there's rice varietals all over the world. yeah sure some people say it's splitting hairs, then they start whinging about beer/wine/sake or ketchup or bbq ribs or cigarettes etc. to each his/her own.
apecNetworks at 09:42 AM JST - 30th September

Distinction in taste of rice is very similar to differences in wine. The taste difference between the cheapest Champagne w/ a very good Champagne costing an arm and a leg. Try the upper range Champagnes - easier to taste the difference. Rice tastes are a bit more complicated because some varieties compliments the taste of the entree.

Rice consumption can be significantly increased w/ the appropriate modifications. I could do it, but increasing food self sufficiency in Japan takes up my studies.
Foxie at 02:01 PM JST - 30th September

I am shocked to see at what rate normal fields are disappearing in Hokkaido to make place to rice paddies. If it continues that way, other crops will cost a fortune soon.
Shaolin7 at 07:53 PM JST - 30th September

On a related note: there was a recent discovery by Japanese scientists who had isolated a set of genes that helped rice grow rapidly in flood conditions (20+ cm in 24 hours, something like that). It was interesting reading -- I can't remember if it was on JT or not?

edit After some Googling, I found a link to an article about this for anyone interested:

http://www.voanews.com/english/Science/2009-09-04-voa23.cfm
kenchan at 12:48 AM JST - 1st October

another example of typical inward looking behaviour...instead of focusing of trying to grab a share of a sadly declining domestic rice market, they should focus on making good quality rice for export and re-take the initiative from the US rice mills who sell bog std short grain white rice around the globe under the banner of Japanese sushi rice.
Disillusioned at 08:22 AM JST - 1st October
Muta is one of many farmers who are fighting an uphill battle against a steady decline in the consumption of Japan’s traditional staple food.

Possibly, just possibly, it would make more sense to look at different crops. They are aware the consumption has halved in the last 40 odd years yet they believe another kind of the same boring plain sticky white rice will save them?
- Another solution would be to ban the import of rice to give the local farmers a chance at selling their product.
kenchan at 04:03 PM JST - 1st October

Another solution would be to ban the import of rice to give the local farmers a chance at selling their product.

yes, each region should ban rice imports from other regions then everyone will be happy right?...btw r u in the unions?
Yelnats at 04:09 PM JST - 1st October

They have to import under international law, but they use it for senbei and other processed stuff. No one in their right mind would eat American rice. Personally, I think Japanese rice is bland and tasteless. Give me some rich Thai rice or Taiwan rice and that would make my day.
Kronos at 04:14 PM JST - 1st October

Grow vegetables.
mindovermatter at 06:29 PM JST - 1st October

Rice growers pin hope on new varieties

And prefectural agents from the Ministry of Agriculture to continue to lie their ass-off and over-estimate their crop yields to intentionally keep foreign rice imports out!

Keeps prices high and imports OUT!
shawnth at 11:24 PM JST - 1st October

No one in their right mind would eat American rice? Sure if all you've had is uncle bens. I've had rice all my life and have to say nothing beats the premium rice that comes out of the california rice fields. Beats the hell out of the over priced rice they sell over here. No wonder people are eating less rice over here, its just a case of bad price performance. I do have to agree that thai rice is delicious, however it doesn't complement Japanese food very well. Imagine eating sushi made with thai rice .
GW at 09:58 AM JST - 4th October

try eating curry with J-rice, what Japanese people dont usually understand is different types of rice go better with different types of food
hollywood1 at 12:49 PM JST - 4th October

If Japan would stop covering up its prime rice growing land with concrete or asphalt, it would have land to grow all the rice it needs. Research is wonderful, but it will be of no value if there is no land or mud in which to grow the rice in Japan. The area between Osaka and Kobe is a prime example. I predict that in the very near future Japan will have to import even more rice from other countries. This means that Japan needs to export more products such as automobiles. Is it possible?
mrsynik at 12:33 PM JST - 5th October

Grow vegetables

I've been making this comment for a while now, plus farm more beef, poultry and other meats. This country grows way too much rice as it is, and surely it is cheaper to import rice than it is to haul vegetables and meat from the other side of the world.

But say this to the ordinary J person and they look at you like you just spat at them.
jason6 at 12:48 PM JST - 5th October

no idea about the human-derived energy to land-use efficiency of rice vs. vegetables, but i'm pretty sure that most animal-meat foods like beef and poultry would not stack up. plus u gotta factor in negative externalities like carbon emissions (ie cow farts), health problems related to meat production, excessive land grazing or alternatively cruelty to animals problems, and pre-existing diet/food preferences.. it's not as easy as changing the seeds you put in the ground. you gotta drain the paddies at the very least. not saying that rice is the only solution, but there MUST be a reason why most countries, not just japan, in this region grow it.