Osaki city, Miyagi prefecture. A mecca of rice production with a rich historical heritage.
Sasamusubi was developed in Osaki city, Miyagi prefecture, the same city which gave birth to the highly acclaimed Sasanishiki and Hitomebore rice varieties. Osaki city is renowned for the paddy agriculture region known as “Osaki Koudo,” a fertile plain abundantly blessed with the waters of the Eai and Naruse rivers which originate in the Ou Mountains, and has long been famed as one of Japan’s most important production areas for high-quality rice. During the Edo period, rice produced on the Osaki Koudo plain and shipped to Edo is said to have accounted for one-third of rice consumption in what was then the de facto capital of Japan. For hundreds of years, farmers have employed both tradition and technology to cultivate the fertile and abundant rice paddies of the Osaki region, producing many beloved varieties of rice while reinforcing Osaki city’s status as the rice capital of Japan. In recognition of its ingenious water management system for sustainable paddy agriculture, in 2017 Osaki Koudo was designated a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
A globally recognized rice paddy ecosystem which provides a habitat for migratory birds.
Located in the eastern part of Osaki city, the Kabukurinuma flood-control basin is an area so rich in nature that it has been registered as a Ramsar wetlands site. It is known as a wintering ground for greater white-fronted geese, a protected species of wild goose, and every year over 100,000 migratory birds visit this area. Flooding rice paddies during the winter creates a rich habitat for a variety of beneficial organisms and wildlife, resulting in natural pest control which contributes to sustainable agricultural practices. The production of Sasamusubi is supported by practices such as these, which combine traditional and modern methods for harnessing the vast power of nature.
