Japan’s issues with sustainability, food self-sufficiency, and food security find their perfect metaphor with rice – a staple not only caught up in tradition and national mythology, but in the ever-ch

And usually polished too much so of next to no nutritional value!

Mythology is a pretty accurate term.

Without VAST amounts of imports of fossil fuels, Japan's rice industry (and all other imaginary self sufficiency) would vanish.

If Japan were TRULY self sufficient, not needing to rely on foreign oil or coal, or even uranium to power their nuclear reactors, they could only support about 50% of the current population.

It's also ridiculous to think you're anywhere NEAR self-sufficiency when your whole economy is dependent on exports.