The Distribution of Japanese Red Rice and Its Characters

Abstract

During the 17th and 18th centuries the long grain group of red rice was raised largely in the southern and partly in the middle provinces of Japan, while the short grain group was grown mostly in the northern and locally in the middle provinces thereon. At present, however, the distribution of these groups of red rice is considerably shifted ; the long grain group is epcountered in the several prefectures besides these of the southern district of Japan, and the short grain group is dispersedly found in the isolated parts of the country. As to the general characters of both groups of red rice, it may be said that the long grain group is reasonably designated as Indica type, and obviously upland rice, and that the short grain group is named as Japonica type, and naturally water rice. It is to be noted that the pigmentation in the outer layers of the kernel of red rice, regardless of the groups, is quite of similar nature. The pericarp displays brown color and the testa, purple color.