Japanology Plus Season 2018 Episode 18 - Rice Cultivation

Airdate: 2018-Jun-26

Episode summary:

Rice has been an integral part of life in Japan for over 2,000 years. Traditionally, one alternative name for Japan is mizuho no kuni, or "the Land of Abundant Rice." As we learn on this edition of Japanology Plus, when society shifted from hunting and gathering to agriculture during the Yayoi period, communities formed around rice paddies to facilitate the cooperation necessary for bringing in a plentiful harvest. This organizational structure laid a foundation for Japanese society, and the effects can still be seen in Japan's cultural identity and people's shared beliefs today.

About Japanology Plus series:

Going a step further from our previous series BEGIN Japanology, host Peter Barakan visits experts in various fields to show Japanese culture from a...Show more >