Hailing from Ibaraki prefecture, Wataribune is another ancient strain. It was originally discovered in 1895, but fell out of common growing practices until it was rediscovered by Huchu Homare’s president in 1988. Hucho Homare got it officially recognized by the Japanese government and started using it as a luxurious “sakamai” (sake rice). Interestingly, Wataribune was once the most widely grown rice in the United States, and was a forebear to the current most widely grown U.S. rice varietal, Calrose. Wataribune also holds the distinction of being one of the parent strains of Yamadanishiki.