Rice is a staple ingredient in many East Asian diets, including Chinese, Korean, Mongolian, Thai and, of course Japanese cuisine. It is a primary source of carbohydrates for this region, as rice can be cultivated in rocky and mountainous terrain with a shortage of arable land and nitrous-rich soil.
The term Japanese rice refers specifically to several species of Japonica rice, which are normally separated into two categories – uruchimai and mochigome.
Uruchimai consists of short translucent grains and is what we would consider regular Japanese rice. Once cooked, it has a sticky texture that allows it to be easily picked up and eaten using chopsticks. This stickiness is what makes uruchimai perfect for sushi and, indeed, it is often labelled as sushi rice outside of Japan. Uruchimai is also the principle type of Japanese rice used in the production of sake.
Both types of Japanese rice include a wide range of varieties, or cultivars. Often the only difference between them is the part of the country in which they are grown, though some cultivars do have specific properties that are unique to them.
Koshihikari: a well-respected cultivar in Japan and one of the most commonly grown in the country.
Akitakomachi: another popular and esteemed cultivar
Sasanishiki: this cultivar is well-known for retaining the same flavour when cooled down as it has when cooked
Yamada Nishiki: this is one of several cultivars grown specifically for producing sake, and by far the most famous of them
Oborozuki and Yumepirika: these cultivars were developed in Hokkaido, specifically to withstand the cold climate in that part of Japan
Both uruchimai and mochigome begin as brown rice, which is often polished by a machine and sold as white rice. While brown rice is occasionally consumed unpolished, this is normally for specific health benefits and is considered something of a speciality.
A common sight in rural Japan is the coin-operated rich polishing machine, known as seimaijo, which typically polish 10kg of brown rice for the price of 100 yen. The polishing process produces a by-product known as rice bran, or komenuka. In commercial quantities, it is used to make rice bran oil, which is notable both for its high smoke point (making it useful for high temperature cooking) and its numerous health benefits. Rice bran oil is known to reduce blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol. It is also used in Japanese cuisine for making a particular kind of pickle, known as nukazuke
Another popular type of Japanese rice is musenmai. This is white rice that has been processed further to remove an additional sticky coating from the grain. This is normally removed by soaking the rice prior to cooking, which is why musenmai is also known as no-wash rice.Japanese rice, particularly uruchimai, is a staple ingredient in Japanese cooking. Indeed, there are few meals that do not incorporate rice in some way. It is most commonly consumed as a plain rice dish known as gohan (cooked rice), either on its own, or accompanied by several other dishes. These can include a wide variety of side dishes (okazu), various pickles (tsukemono), brined or fermented fruits (umeboshi), and miso soup. Plain uruchimai can also be served with a range of toppings such as furikake, used to add flavour and texture to the dish.
Japanese rice forms the core of a Japanese breakfast, where it is often mixed with raw egg and soy sauce to produce tamago kake gohan. Plain Japanese rice is also used in a range of Western-inspired dishes, known as yōshoku dishes such as curry rice and omelette rice (omurice). Leftover plain rice is often reused and reheated in dishes like ochazuke (rice with green tea) and chāhan (fried rice), as well as many others.
These are just some of the Japanese rice products and variations that prove particularly popular at SushiSushi. Click on a link to learn more, or visit our online store for more Japanese rice products.
This premium rice is cultivated with no chemical fertilisers, relying instead on organic wagyu fertiliser for nutrients and snow water for hydration. This imparts high levels of natural minerals to the rice, improving its quality. Perfect for rice balls and bento boxes.
Rich and glutinous, emi no kizuna rice is cultivated specifically for use in sushi recipes. Similar in texture and appearance to koshi-hikari Japanese rice, it allows both new and experienced chefs to create all manner of sushi dishes of the highest quality.
Miora rice improver contains a proteolytic enzyme that increases the absorptive properties of the rice grains. This produces moist, shiny rice that will not stick to the pan. Used with a quality rice cooker, you are guaranteed excellent sushi rice every time.
Rice flour is a popular, gluten-free alternative to wheat flour in all kinds of recipes, as well as being used to thicken soups, stews, and sauces, much like cornflour. In Japanese cuisine it is used for making rice noodles and tempura batter.
Here at SushiSushi, we source our Japanese rice from some of the most well-respected and established producers in Japan. These include:
At their immense rice farm in Ibaraki, Agri Yamazaki produces Japanese rice of the highest quality. Their main cultivars are koshihikari and Milky Queen, a recent cultivar that is fluffy, sweet, and sticky – perfect for sushi.
The Okuizumo Nitamai Rice Company grows its Japanese rice on traditional rice terraces at their paddy fields in Nita-gun. Set at an altitude of 300-500m these terraces benefit from high temperatures during the day and low temperatures during the night, which lead to high starch contents and more flavourful rice.
Tobaya is a Japanese vinegar producer that has been in business for over 300 years. They use traditional methods to produce their vinegars, using only the highest quality ingredients and carefully controlling the fermentation process to ensure the best flavour and quality.