Joe Bloggs

Rice by the lake

How much rice does the average 2+2 family eat a year? As rice really is a daily staple, it shouldn't surprise you to hear that we get through about 4 x 30kg bags. I went off to the neighbouring prefecture (county/state) to pick up our four bags from a friend whose father is a farmer. I can report that, due to the bad weather this rice growing season, the price has gone up this year. The picture above (click for an enlargement) is of Lake Biwa and the torii gate of Shirahige Jinja - a shrine (which is onshore) dedicated to the protection of boats on the lake. I passed it on the way to my friend's house. The lake, the biggest in Japan, has some truly expansive views and I believe is Japan's biggest tourist attraction. You can see a different sky every time you pass that mass of water and although my photo doesn't do it justice, there are times when the beauty of the place is overwhelming.