Every year, my dad harvests rice by hand for the Great Fall Ceremony. This sacred Shinto ceremony is one of the two times per year when the doors of the inner shrine are opened. Food offerings, including inaho or “ears” of newly harvested rice, are presented to Okami, the enshrined spirit of earth and fields. The Shinto priest offers prayers for health, happiness, safety, and prosperity, and Koto music is performed. As a thank you for providing rice for the ceremony, the priest also performs Gokitoh Kigansai, or private prayer ceremonies, on behalf of our family. My dad has been harvesting rice for the Great Fall Ceremony for almost twenty years now. Since moving back to California, I have had the privilege of helping him. This year, he waited for me to come home from Climate Week so I could help harvest regenerative organic sushi rice. What an honor to be part of this sacred tradition. ♥️🌾