Early rice

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This photo was taken about a week and a half ago. The paddies in Otaki have been flooded to allow for rice seedlings to be planted. This is known a ta-ue 田植. The process creates in the landscape a set of parallel worlds stacked vertically upon one another. I wonder, sometimes, if one is truer than the other.

Rice seedlings sprouted early this year and so ta-ue was also moved up about a week. Residents continue to tell me how unusual this year is. Global warming tends to be the favored culprit as I probe deeper with questions.

How will the Otaki community respond to a changing climate? Will it be as simple as planting a week early? How can human members of the community predict some of the changes ahead? What can they do now to prepare?

Contemplations sprouting from rice paddies.

Comments

Ojisanjake said…
In my neck of the woods the rice is a couple of weeks late being planted because of the unseasonably cool weather :)
May 27, 2009 at 10:35 PM
owenandbenjamin said…
That picture is so simple and yet it is such a peaceful and beautiful picture with the lines and reflections and the color.
May 28, 2009 at 6:32 AM
Project Hyakumeizan said…
Many thanks for this interesting post - and for keeping us up to date with the effects of global warming on Japan, if such they are. I believe that an official report estimated that a warmer climate might increase Japan's rice production by 7% ....
June 11, 2009 at 11:18 AM
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