This book chronicles Japans rice farmers who live in mainly rural areas in the west and south of Japan through original interviews conducted in Japanese. It argues that current agricultural policy as well as the tightening relationship between the US and Japan is a death sentence for a traditional lifestyle that is vital to Japans notion of national identity. The project covers recent agricultural policies, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and its potential consequences on Japans food sovereignty and documents the effect of these policies on rice farmers. This volume is ideal for those interested in Japans agricultural policies and rural and traditional Japanese lifestyle.

Nicole L. Freiner is Associate Professor of Political Science at Bryant University, USA. She is the author of The Social and Gender Politics of Confucianism: Women and the Japanese State (2012).

1. Chapter One: Introduction: The Politics of Rice in Japan.- 2. Chapter Two: Rice in Japanese History and Cultural Tradition.- 3. Chapter Three: The Political Landscape: Recent Agricultural Policies and Rice Growers.- 4. Chapter Four: Global Orders of Trade: Pacific Partnership and International Agreements.- 5. Chapter Five: JA Zenchu: The role of the agricultural cooperative.- 6. Chapter Six: Citizen Consumers: Cultural Protection and Japans Food Movement.- 7. Chapter Seven: Food Security: The Role of Rice in Japan and Asia.- 8. Chapter Eight: Conclusions and Future Recommendations: The Loss of Japans Rice Growing Culture.