Rice Day

What Is Rice Day?

August 18th is "Rice Day" in Japan, based on the fact that the kanji for "rice" (米) breaks down into the numbers "eighty-eight" (八十八). The organization that established it is not clear, but the day is widely known, also under the name "Okome no Hi." Separately, the 18th of every month is "Rice-Eating Day" (米食の日), established by Mie Prefecture in 1978 because 米 can also be split into "ten" and "eight."

The Respect for Rice Held in the Number "Eighty-Eight"

It has long been known that the character for "rice" is made up of the components for "eight," "ten," and "eight."

• Its origin: tied to the fact that breaking down the kanji for "rice" (米) yields the characters for "eight," "ten," and "eight" -- together reading "eighty-eight"
• Its meaning: said to represent the eighty-eight steps of labor believed necessary to grow rice to harvest, expressing gratitude for farmers' hard work
• Rice in Japanese food culture: rice cultivation forms the foundation of Japanese food culture, and rice remains the staple food supporting daily meals today

A Connection to "Hachijuhachiya," the 88th Night

Besides August 18, some observe Rice Day on August 8, or on the 8th, 18th, and 28th of every month. Higashiomi City in Shiga Prefecture, for example, calls the 8th of each month "Okome no Hi" and runs a project encouraging people to eat more locally grown Omi rice.

"Hachijuhachiya," the 88th day counted from Risshun (usually around May 2), is another calendar day long used as a marker for farm work such as sowing seeds and picking tea. The single character for "rice" carries within it this long relationship between the Japanese people and rice farming.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Learn about the origin and variety of the rice you usually eat
• Take a moment to reflect on the process behind every single grain of rice
• Cook a dish that puts rice front and center, like onigiri or takikomi gohan
• Look up recipes for using up leftover rice

Gratitude for Eighty-Eight Steps of Labor, in a Single Grain

Every grain of rice we eat without a second thought carries within it the many steps of labor put in by those who grow it. Let August 18th be a chance to reflect on that, and truly savor the gift of rice.