ゆう子です、よろしくね。Hi, this is Yuko. - Japanese Culture

Before we move on, let's talk briefly about Japanese culture.

Discover Japan - Industries in Japan

A map of Japan showing the products of various agricultural industries (rice, apples, etc). — Image Text from north to south on the map (product and region grouped):

Blue arrow: 青森県(あおもりけん)＝Aomori Prefecture; りんご＝apple

Black arrow: 秋田県(あきたけん)＝Akita Prefecture; お米(こめ)＝rice

Red arrow: 静岡県(しずおかけん)＝Shizuoka Prefecture; お茶(ちゃ)＝tea; うなぎ＝eel

農家(のうか)＝farmer, people engaged in agriculture, farming family, farm house

Yuko’s family in Shizuoka grows green tea on the farm/plantation. There are many farmers producing various products. Tea farmers are busy in spring and summer when young tea leaves shoot out. Soft tea leaves are picked, steamed, dried, and selected for their shape and color as well as their flavor.

Rice farmers grow rice in rice お米(こめ) paddy 田(た)んぼ. The harvest season is fall. There are many brand names of rice, depending on the regions rice is grown. These days, technology cuts physical labor, and the work has become more efficient. At the same time, the use of chemicals – insecticides – is anticipated.

Geography and Popular Produce

There are some places in Japan that are well known for their produce.

秋田県(あきたけん)：Akita Prefecture
静岡県(しずおかけん)：Shizuoka Prefecture
青森県(あおもりけん)： Aomori Prefecture

For example, Shizuoka prefecture (静岡県(しずおかけん)) is well known for green tea (tea = お茶(ちゃ)). Another product that makes Shizuoka popular is cultured eel. Hamamatsu City (浜松＝はままつ) is the city where eels (うなぎ) are raised and the *うなぎパイ (eel pie) is well known as a souvenir.

*うなぎパイ does not include eel as an ingredient. The pie is named as such because it is long like an eel.

Rice (お米(こめ)) is grown all over in Japan. There are various names of rice, such as Nishiki-mai, Sasa-nishiki, etc. Akita prefecture (秋田県(あきたけん)) is one of them. Rice grown in Akita prefecture is called Akita-Komachi. The rice is specially named for its region.

Aomori prefecture (青森県(あおもりけん)) is famous for apples (りんご). Speaking of apples, in the U.S.A., Washington state is famous for apples. Fuji Apples (ふじりんご) are popular in the U.S.A. now. As you may guess, Fuji apples (ふじりんご) were first introduced in the 1930s from Japan to the U.S.A., and now we can eat Japanese apples at our table. Of course, the apple is named after the ふじ山 (Mt. Fuji) in Japan. Fuji apples are originally from 青森県(あおもりけん).

Advanced: You may also challenge yourself to dig deeper for special products and souvenirs related to certain regions in Japan.

Final Thoughts: Japanese Industry

Japan is famous for its agriculture, in particular its rice, tea, eels, and apples. Certain regions are particularly well known, like Akita prefecture's rice, Aomori prefecture's apples, and Shizuoka prefecture's tea and eels. Behind all of this agriculture, Japan's farmers use modern innovations to work more efficiently to produce what is needed.

At this point, do not hesitate to ask your teacher any questions. It’s YOU – a learner agent - who takes the initiative in your learning and building a firm understanding.

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