In the age of the samurai, Japan often faced famines and poor harvests.
When crops failed, many farmers and townspeople struggled to survive.
But the samurai governments did not always ignore them.
They created a simple but powerful system called “Osukui-mai” (御救米) — which means “Relief Rice.”
What Was Osukui-mai?
Osukui-mai was a system where the local government or the domain (han) lent rice to poor people with no interest.
People could borrow rice during hard times and repay it after the next harvest.
It was like an early form of social welfare or a community safety net.
The goal was not to give free rice, but to help people stand up again on their own.
This idea reflected the samurai spirit of responsibility and compassion.
Why It Mattered
For many farmers, even a few bags of rice could mean life or death.
Thanks to Osukui-mai, they could avoid selling their land or falling into debt.
It also helped to keep villages stable and prevent uprisings.
In short, this policy protected both the people and the nation.
Modern Lessons
The samurai knew that true strength meant more than fighting.
It meant protecting the weak and keeping society in balance.
Today, we can learn from their idea —
helping others is not charity; it is a form of shared responsibility.
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