Food is one of travellers joys. Mine for sure. When I am going to some new place, I want to check what kind of food is served there and if it is tasty. 
In Japan the most important food is rice, so I should write my rice story for sure.
 
Rice in Japan is so important that the word for cooked rice (gohan) also menas meal.
 First introduced in 2nd century BC has become the foundation of japanese cuisine, served at every meal.
 Rice is rich source of vegetable protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals.
Numerous by-products like sake, mirin, vinegar and miso have also been derived from rice.
 Japanese rice short grain variety was developed over the centuries to suit climate and taste of the Japanese people. Once cooked, it is tender and moist but firm enough to retain a little crunchiness.
 Honestly, it is the best rice I have ever ate and I think the best in the rice in the world.
 I eat mostly fish, sea food, chicken, vegetables and fruits, so Japanese food is perfect for me.
 Problem is I eat rather a little of grains or bread, flour etc., that is why I worried if I not make my Japanese friends offended by eating tiny amount of rice. But better to tell them that you eat a little than leave some rice unfinished in a bowl. It is very rude to leave rice, not eat it all.
 
There are over 300 types of short grain rice, grown all over Japan in watter -filled fields.
It is such a lovely view. I loved green rice fields located aronund country houses and even in Tokyo. Yes, in Tokyo too. On suburbs people make small, tiny rice fields near their houses.
 For harvesting they use small harvesters which look cute.All is suitable for small fields size.

 The most nutricious rice is brown rice called genmai. It is the least polished from all types, high in fiber and cheivey after cooking. But I do not like this type much.
 Short, opaque grains called mochigome (glutinous rice) have a high sugar content and and is often steamed rather than boiled. It is basic ingredience to prepare mochi-rice cakes and senbei-rice biscuits and also for making mirin- sweet rice wine. 
It is also an ingredient in many japanese sauces such as teriyaki.
 It is fun to prepare mochi but it is also dangerous.
One person smash cooked rice placed in wooden jar and second person is turning rice over. The team must be well coordinated because if not...hands may be smashed by big hammer which is crushing rice... 
Mochi are not my favourite rice cakes, but I am big fan of senbei- rice biscuits. They are so tasty and have so many flavours. 
 
But what i like most with rice is...sushi! Oh yes! Sushi is my favourite food and in such way I can eat a lot of rice. Japanese rice is best for sushi and no where else sushi is so tasty like in Japan.So first i eat sushi and later drink sake, also made from rice, in old house surrouned by rice fields. All about rice...all about Japan.