Driving to the Oyama Senmaida Rice Terraces Flooded terraces and the rice balls I brought along

When I stepped out of the car at Oyama Senmaida, the flooded rice terraces stretched down the slope. The water reflected the sky, with embankments winding gently between the fields. From the photos I'd seen, I thought all the paddies would be the same shape. But in person, each one was different in size and curve, and I found my eyes following them all the way into the distance.

I stood beside the red convertible, straightening the cuff of my white shirt. I'd chosen a pink top and a white skirt for the afternoon. Each time a spring breeze brushed my cheek, my eyes went back to the sky reflected in the water. The distant mountains came into view, too; I felt my heart swell at the vast landscape opening out at the end of the road.

I unwrapped one of the rice balls I'd brought along. I'd made them with rice from Oyama Senmaida and shaped them to be easy to eat on the go. I had planned to eat them while looking out over the paddies, but holding one suddenly made the connection real. I'd been admiring the landscape, and suddenly it hit me: this is where the rice I'm eating comes from.

One bite and the rice's sweetness slowly filled my mouth. I wanted a bit of seaweed with one bite, then just rice with the next, so I turned the rice ball around in my hands. I should've been hungry, but now I didn't want to finish it too quickly. I wanted to remember the terraces spread out before me, so I looked up after every bite.

My eyes naturally followed the curves of the embankments, from the nearby plot to the one a little farther down the slope. Unlike a single flat field, these terraces give the scenery a real sense of depth. This flooded spring landscape is just the beginning; there's a whole season of rice growing ahead. I'm mesmerized by the reflections right now, but I already want to come back someday to see the rice plants swaying here.

I finished my rice ball, put the wrapper away, and took another look at the terraces. They felt closer than when I'd first seen them. Maybe it was because I'd eaten such good rice. Before I got back into the car, I traced those curves and reflections with my eyes once more. I think this afternoon will come back to me the next time I sit down to eat at home.