rice, n.Trivia

In Japan, rice has been cultivated for over 2000 years and serves as the country's most important crop.

Rice was used as currency in early Japanese history

Rice has over 15,000 different kinds

'Sushi' refers to a way of preparing the rice with vinegar. It has nothing to do with raw fish

Rice is the staple food for 50% of the world's population

rice is primarily grown in flooded paddies not because it needs to be but because it is an effective way of drowning the weeds surrounding the young seedlings.

Rice is of such importance in Japan that 'meal' is simply expressed by the word 'cook rice'

Donburi (Japanese rice bowl) developed from the desire to keep eel from getting cold by placing it over warm rice.