Introduction: The 2025 Buzzword Awards and Rice Topics

Looking through the nominees for the 2024 Buzzword Awards, one phrase caught my attention: “Reiwa Rice Panic” (令和の米騒動). This term, which became a hot topic on social media during the summer of 2024, symbolizes the rice shortage that left supermarket shelves empty and caused price surges.

I grew up in the countryside, where my parents and grandparents worked as part-time farmers. I witnessed rice cultivation up close and learned firsthand about farming by helping with the work. I believe the time has come to refocus our attention on the importance of agriculture.

The Richness of Japanese Food Culture and Agriculture

The deliciousness of Japanese food, its rich variety, and its delicacy are remarkable. There are countless regional specialties throughout the country, all supported by Japanese agriculture.

Agriculture must be valued not simply because of an interest in food, but because it directly impacts our health and spiritual well-being. We are now at a time when we need to reassess various aspects of our food system.

Food Crisis in 2025: A Year When Both Bears and Humans Struggled for Food

2025 has also been a year of increased bear attacks. While this partly reflects human encroachment into wildlife habitats through the expansion of living areas, it also indicates a disruption in nature’s balance, with wild animals struggling to find food.

At the same time, we humans faced food security issues expressed through the “Reiwa Rice Panic” of 2024. This situation sends us a message that we must seriously consider food security.

The Weight of “A Single Grain of Rice”: A Lesson from My Father

When I was young, my father said something to me that left a profound impact:

“Don’t leave any rice behind. Even a single grain of rice takes a full year to produce.”

These words struck my heart deeply. From that moment on, I truly understood the real meaning of saying “itadakimasu” (I humbly receive this food) before meals.

The Process and Effort of Rice Cultivation

My entire family worked hard throughout the year to manage and cultivate the rice paddies, going through all the steps necessary to bring rice to the table. My father, in addition to his main job at a trading company, also conducted research on rice cultivation. The moment when I connected what I had witnessed—all that effort and research—with his words remains vivid in my memory.

Main Stages of Rice Cultivation

1. Spring Preparation: Plowing and leveling the fields
2. Rice Planting: Carefully planting each seedling
3. Summer Management: Water management, weeding, pest and disease control
4. Autumn Harvest: Rice cutting, drying, threshing
5. Winter Preparation: Preparing for next year, soil improvement

Only after going through all these processes does rice finally reach our dining tables.

What We Can Do: Living with Respect for Food

1. Reducing Food Waste

There is a fact that each person in Japan wastes about one bowl of rice per day. We must reflect on this and work to improve it.

2. Not Taking Too Much from Nature

We should practice sustainable consumption, purchasing only what we need in the amounts we need.

3. Cherishing Food

Every food item contains the effort and time of the people who produced it. Let us remember once again the true meaning of “itadakimasu.”

4. Reverence for Plants and Animals

Our lives are sustained by receiving the lives of other beings. It is essential to maintain gratitude and respect toward plants and animals.

The Future of Agriculture and Our Role

The nomination of “Reiwa Rice Panic” for the Buzzword Awards has provided an opportunity for many people to become interested in Japan’s food security.

Agriculture is not merely an industry. It is our culture, our health, and an investment in our future.

The Re-emerging Value of Agriculture

• Food security
• Revitalization of local economies
• Environmental conservation
• Preservation of traditional culture
• Realization of spiritual wealth

Conclusion: A Resolution to Reform Our Lives

What began as a reflection on a Buzzword Award nominee has led me to feel that the time has come for each of us to seriously engage with food and agriculture.

Even a single grain of rice takes a full year to produce.

Without forgetting this truth, I want to reform my daily life with a spirit of cherishing food and maintaining reverence for nature.