20 September 2003

 

Last Updated: 20/03/04

 

An event organised by the International Club (of which I am a member.  The Yosakoi Team I am in is run by the same club).  So, one Saturday morning, we headed off into the rice fields, shoeless and clueless, and emerged a couple of hours later still shoeless and with not much more of a clue.  It was excellent fun, though, and I found it really therapeutic (apart from when the earthworms came up between your toes...yes this did happen to me).  The giant jumping beetles weren't much fun, either.  The ground wasn't as muddy as I'd been expecting, and it was good to get outdoors.  Obviously we appreciate the hard work that goes into rice farming, even with all the new technology.  But it was great to try something different, and actually get out there and do something physical (makes a change from sitting in an office or standing in a classroom).  

 

All in all a fantastic day.  Thanks to the IC for making all the arrangements, and thank you to the farmer and his family for putting up with so many of us Gaikokujin, and also for preparing a wonderful lunch!

 


 

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Ok.  The basics.  This is rice.

 

(just in case you ever wondered

what it looked like in its natural state)

 

The harvesters, ready to get to

work.

 

(not all of us were present for the photo)

 

Note the full complement of rice behind

us.

 

 
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Instructions. 

 

We were shown how to cut, bundle

and tie the rice.  Many times.

But we still couldn't get it right!

 

Flick has a go.

 

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A very flattering picture of me, but

at least it proves I was actually doing

something!!!

 

Me looking proud with my rice!

 

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Busy working.

ALTs and Officials from the

Prefectural Government Office get their hands

dirtywhile Yoshi (in Orange) - founder of

the IC - stands by and watches.

 

He protests his innocence. Hmmm...

 

Brandon, taking a break. 

 

Proof that we had to go barefoot...!



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The machine comes to help us out.

 

From and engineering point of view

this is a very cool machine.  At the

time, however, we felt a great sense of

sadness that we couldn't keep on

working. 

 

I guess things would be different if

we had to do this for a living, though.


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Loading the rice.

 

Watching. 

 

Atsuko is standing

closest to the truck.  Mat is in red.
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Our rice!  Having been loaded into the

truck.

 

Some neighbouring fields which had

already been harvested. 

 

If you look closely you can see the

birds - they were HUGE! (If anyone

knows what make of bird they are,

please drop me a line).
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Weighing the rice into bags.

 

If anyone's interested, I have loads

more photos and video clips

about how the rice is processed.

 

Mat (red) standing next to a rather

large bit of machinery, looking very

thoughtful.
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The Final Product.

 

 

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