稲妻 (inatsuma) the word for lightning literally means rice wife. This is based on the traditional Japanese belief that abundant lightning leads to an abundant rice harvest. Lightning was thought to impregnate or awaken the soul of the rice (inatama). There is a scientific basis to this observation, because lightning breaks up inert nitrogen in the atmosphere, promoting the fertilization of the soil with nitrous oxide. Traditional farmers lived with the seasons and observed nature as a spiritual drama. This led to many traditional proverbs such as:
Rice grows when lightning strikes.
Rice grows when lightning strikes.