The rice harvest has already begun. Using a parasol on his combine, Ooe-Machi's Mr. Murakami escapes the sun.

Translated from the original article at: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120810-00000303-rtn-l26

Transmitted at 5:13 PM on Friday, August 8 by the Ryoutan Daily Shinbun

In the intense sunlight, the drooping, mature rice stalks are cut one after another. (After 10:00AM on August 10)

Along the Yuragawa River of Ooe-machi, Fukuchiyama City, rice harvesting has already begun. On the 10th, Yahiro Murakami (Age 70) of the Kitaariji area began cutting down the golden, mature rice crops.

Since long ago near Ooe-Machi's Yura River Bank, in order to yield a harvest before the  fall's typhoon season, the area's farms have planted rice early in the spring. By the (late summer) lantern festival season, it's ready for harvest.

Mr. Murakami owns 4 rice fields, covering 50 ares of land. From the 10th, harvesting commenced. First, he went to work on his largest field, measuring 37 ares. Continuing to work under the intense heat, he attached a colorful umbrella to his combine. Boarding the vehicle while also covered under a straw hat, one mature, swaying rice stalk is cut after another.

"What's needed the most is water. With the rain stopping after the beginning of July, there's a bad possibility that this year will have a small rice yield. After all the rice has been harvested, we'll begin again around September." said Mr. Murakami.


Original text:
早くも稲刈り始まる　コンバインに日よけのパラソルつけて大江の村上さん
両丹日日新聞 8月10日(金)17時13分配信

強い日差しの中、たわわに実った稲が次々と刈り取られていった（１０日午前１０時すぎ）

福知山市大江町の由良川沿いで、早くも稲刈りが始まっている。１０日は北有路の村上八弘さん（７０）が黄金色に実った稲を刈り取っていった。

町内の由良川筋では、秋の台風シーズンを避けて収穫するため、昔から春の早い時期に田植えをして、盆ごろに稲刈りをする農家がある。

村上さんは４枚の田んぼ約５０アールを所有。１０日から収穫を始めた。まず一番広い３７アールの田で作業。まだ厳しい暑さが続く中、コンバインにカラフルなパラソルを付け、麦わら帽子をかぶって乗り、たわわに実った稲を次々と刈っていった。

「一番水が必要な７月上旬に雨が降らなかったので、今年は少し生育が悪いかもしれない。全部の稲刈りが終わるのは９月初めぐらいになります」と村上さんは話している。