Rice, Agriculture, and the Food Supply in Premodern Japan

This book examines the history of agriculture in premodern Japan, dealing with the history of agricultural techniques and the food supply, analysing in detail each of the farming operations from sowing to harvesting and the customs pertaining to consumption. It challenges the widespread theory that rice cultivation has been the basis of "Japaneseness" for two millennia and the foundation of Japanese civilization by focussing on the biodiversity and polycultural traditions of Japan. It will also play a role in the current dialogue on the future of sustainable agriculture from the viewpoints of ecology, biodiversity, dietary culture and food security throughout the world.