Koshihikari is the crown jewel of Japanese short-grain rice, noted for its sweet, nutty taste and slight stickiness; it is especially suited to sushi. Its name means “light of Koshi.” Koshi is an old province of Japan, a stretch of land that lines the coast of the Sea of Japan and covers the birthplace of koshihikari, Niigata prefecture, as well as the place it took root, Fukui prefecture. Hikari, “light,” refers to the grain’s polish and its translucent quality. Koshihikari came from initiatives to increase rice-production in the immediate postwar era when people struggled to fill their stomachs. It was initially overshadowed by sturdier, more high-yield varieties when it debuted in 1944, but after a 1948 earthquake decimated production in Fukui prefecture, koshihikari got a second chance in new growing conditions. Koshihikari now accounts for almost 40% of rice production. It is cultivated as a highly valued “boutique” rice in specialized areas, such as Uonuma in Niigata prefecture.