A speedier harvest from the rice paddies of Ishigaki Island (The fastest yielding rice in Japan)

Translated from the original article at: http://ishigaki.keizai.biz/headline/939/

May 21, 2012

Mr. Nakaarashiro, smiling broadly.

At Okinawa's #1 rice field, Hirata Field of Ishigaki Island, the harvest of its fast growing rice has begun.

On Nakaarashiro Jun's 9-hectare rice paddy, the harvest season has already begun. Nakaashiro's island farm is battling to be ranked above all others as the fastest producing rice farm. Usually, farms begin harvesting rice from the end of this month. Planting his koshihikari rice in the middle of January, he's been harvesting since May 18 from 50 ares of space. "On the Chinese Calendar, March 2012  marks a leap month, extending the time period from planting until harvesting. From March, the temperatures have gradually risen, creating a favorable condition for the growth of the rice. Selecting delicious tasting rice is the basis for improving the flavor of a meal. 2012 is set to have the greatest harvest in several years," said Nakaarashiro, his face cracking with a huge smile.

Nakaarashiro divides the cultivation of rice between 3 periods within each year. After the end of this period, the next goes from the end of June until mid-August, followed by another period from late August until late November. "Even though the summer typhoons cause damage, the harvests from the other seasons supplement the total yield and disperse the risks from the weather." said Nakaarashiro.

Retailers within the city quickly line their shelves with Nakaarashiro's recently grown rice, for residents of Ishigaki to enjoy Japan's fastest growing rice. 

Original text:

石垣島の水田で早くも稲刈り－「日本一早い米」収穫

（2012年05月21日）

顔をほころばせる仲新城さん

沖縄一の米どころ・石垣島平田原（ひらたばる）で早くも米の収穫が始まった。

稲刈りが始まったのは仲新城淳さんの9ヘクタールある水田。仲新城さんは島内の稲作農家の中でも1、2位を争う超早場米の生産者で、一般農家は今月末ごろから収穫を始めるのに対し仲新城さんは1月中旬に植えたコシヒカリを5月18日から日に50アールずつ収穫している。「今年は旧暦の閏（うるう）3月があり田植えから稲刈りまでの期間を長く取った。3月から気温が徐々に上昇したのは稲の生育に好条件だった。米のおいしさの基準である食味が増し、今年は数年に一度の豊作になるだろう」と顔をほころばせる。

仲新城さんは毎年3期に分けて米を生産し、今後は5月末から8月中旬、8月下旬から11月下旬にかけても稲作を行う。「夏場の台風で被害が出ても、ほかの期の収穫で補えるリスク分散の役割もある」と仲新城さん。

市内の小売りスーパーでは早くも仲新城さんの生産した新米が並び、石垣市民は日本一早い新米を食べることができる。