No Rice No Life in Japan. 

◆早乙女(さおとめ)(saotome)= rice planting woman
◇本来は田植えに際して田の神を祭る巫女のことを指すが、現在は田植えに従事する女性全てのことを言う。その服装に地域差はあるものの、紺の単衣・赤だすき・白手ぬぐい・新しい菅笠、というスタイルが主流。
It was very important that girls transplant rice seedlings. Because Japanese believed the action would bring a good harvest of rice that year. The costume is called Saotome too.
Now is the best season for rice in Japan! 🙂