“What whispers do these stones hold?” I ask gesturing toward the \u65ed\u7c73\u9855\u5f70\u7891. This monument honors a pivotal figure and a specific type of rice. Let’s delve into the tale of \u65ed rice.
The \u65ed\u7c73\u9855\u5f70\u7891 commemorates the achievements related to \u65ed rice. This rice variety has a significant history in Japan. It dates back to the Meiji period.
In 1908, a farmer named Yamamoto Shinjiro discovered a unique rice plant. He lived in Asahi Town in Kyoto Prefecture. Among his “Hinode” rice crop he found two unusual stalks. These stalks stood strong and bore large grains. Yamamoto cultivated these variant plants. He named it “Asahi” meaning morning sun.
Yamamoto shared his rice with the Kyoto Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station. They conducted trials on the rice. In 1911, it was recognized as superior. However a rice with the name “Asahi” was already being cultivated. Therefore it was named “\u65ed”. It may also be called Kyoto Asahi. In some areas it is still called Asahi.
Kyoto Prefecture registered “\u65ed No. 1” as an original variety in 1915. By 1920, it was promoted as an excellent strain. Yamamoto continued sending the rice to experiment stations nationwide. It spread across various regions. \u65ed rice became popular for its large grains and good taste. It also had a heavy yield. In western Japan it replaced the dominant “Shinriki” rice.
By the 1930s, \u65ed rice became the most widely planted variety in western Japan. It covered over 500000 hectares at its peak. It was called “Eastern Kame no O and Western Asahi”. After World War II, its cultivation declined. Mechanized harvesting became common. \u65ed rice was prone to shattering and unsuitable for machines. New rice varieties emerged.
Despite its decline, \u65ed rice is a parent to many popular strains. These include Koshihikari and Sasanishiki.
You can find this monument in the Mukai City. It honors \u65ed rice and Yamamoto Shinjiro’s contribution. You will find it on Mori Hill. It is a tribute to a rice that once fed a nation. It also symbolizes agricultural innovation. As you stand before the \u65ed\u7c73\u9855\u5f70\u7891 reflect on the impact of \u65ed rice. It is a reminder of how a single discovery can shape a nation’s agriculture.