Rice is an essential component of the Japanese diet. So much so, it’s not uncommon for a Japanese person to eat rice with every meal–breakfast, lunch and dinner. Rice was also once used as currency in previous eras, speaking to its cultural (not just culinary) significance.
Surely, the versatility of rice is one of the reasons behind its popularity as it can be transformed into everything from crunchy-savory senbei (rice crackers) and chewy-sweet mochi (rice cakes), to fruity-floral sake.
Learn more about rice in Japan: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2043.html
