I had always liked rice–although for most of my life, that meant wild rice of some variety, or if it was white rice, then it was the kind you could just throw in the microwave, add soy sauce to, and mix up with whatever meat or vegetables are being served with it. Why, I even recall making a single serving of microwaved white rice to eat as a snack sometimes. That became harder to do after my first trip to Japan, where the rice is served and kept a shiny bright white, eaten with something on top in the same bite such as a pickled vegetable or crumbled seasoning, or simply as it is–because it’s good exactly as it is. It is wonderful exactly as it is. I don’t really need to stress the importance of rice in Japanese culture here (because I’ve already done that before), but suffice to say people care about it being served properly, and although all rice is supposed to be good, some rice is simply better than others, and many prefectures are fierce about their pride in their rice. Nita Mai (“Nita Rice”, from a district of Okuiizumo town called Nita), is one such variety of luxurious tasting rice–I received some as a gift instead of buying it myself to try. And yes, the cool summer nights and clean water do indeed make for special rice. Makes for special sake, too.
November 9, 2014
Nita Rice
Posted by Buri-chan under Buri-chan Anecdotes, Local Anecdotes | Tags: food, rice |[4] Comments
November 9, 2014 at 5:24 pm
I love this manga piece…one of my favs! :)
November 10, 2014 at 10:10 am
I like it too, because the moment happened just like that. I can see why gift shop boutiques sell decorative little bags of Nita rice!
November 16, 2014 at 5:36 am
Even just ordinary Japanese rice is a revelation if all you’ve ever had is the dried, tasteless American stuff.
November 17, 2014 at 9:01 am
True that–I don’t think I’ve really been able to enjoy American microwave rice ever since my first trip to Japan a long time ago, but now I feel like I can’t even call it rice.