Monthly Special Archive

October 2023:

The harvest season is well on its way in Japan and this month highlights photographs of rice harvesting from the George Butler Collection. Taken in Miyagi in 1951 when George Butler was stationed with the US Army at Camp Matsushima, the collection highlights life as Japan emerges from the post-war era.

This first image shows a man placing bundles of harvested rice on the edges of the paddy so they will dry.

Here, a woman uses a bamboo basket to winnow the rice, removing grain from stalk.

Lastly, two women use a large wooden wheel-like machinel to remove the husks from the grains of rice. One turns the crank to spin the barrel while the other pours rice into the top.

For past Monthly Specials, please see our archive here.