The Best Rice Ball from a Rice Harvesting Experience

[88 Musubi] Former Haseyama Residence (Important Cultural Property of Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture) Pickled Plum Rice Ball

This series has reached its 88th installment. Writing 88 as 'eighty-eight' makes the character for rice!
The Former Haseyama Residence, an Important Cultural Property in Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture, hosted the unveiling event for 'Omusubi Ale.' The rice balls served there to pair with the ale were pickled plum rice balls hand-formed by local mothers.

(For more on Omusubi Ale, click here)

These rice balls used the highest quality eco-farmed Akita Komachi rice, grown by Station Master Kosaka of the Ugo Roadside Station.
Furthermore, before the unveiling event, a rice harvesting event was held in the very eco-farmed rice paddies where this rice is grown.

There were about 20 participants in total. Many were tour participants from Tokyo, and with media coverage present, it was a lively atmosphere.

This rice harvesting involved not just cutting with a sickle, but also natural drying, known as 'hasagake'.

To do this, the harvested rice stalks had to be tied with rice straw (which we wore around our waists). This was quite difficult.

Despite our inexperienced hands, we kept cutting away.

Then, we loaded them onto a transport vehicle and moved them to where the poles for the hasagake were set up.

Working together, we carefully hung the rice on the poles, making sure there were no gaps.

This rice harvest was just a small section of the field.
Even just that made my legs and lower back ache.
Farmers have it really tough. I truly take my hat off to them.

It is said that the reason the character for rice is written as 'eighty-eight' is because it takes so many steps and so much hard work to grow and harvest it...

We must cherish our rice.

I moved my body so much that I was absolutely starving!

Top-quality Akita Komachi rice.
It's so glossy, chewy, and full of sweetness.
I never realized rice could be this delicious.

The combination of the rice ball and rice ball ale is also the best! I'm so glad I was born in Japan.

**A wonderful experience and the best rice ball, thank you for the meal! **

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