Shinmai, an official term designated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) system, is the rice harvested, processed and packaged for sale in the current year, up until December 31.
Rice from the previous calendar year is designated as komai, old rice; still older rice is called kokomai (old old rice), kokokomai (old old old rice) and so on with the number of ko (meaning old) corresponding to the rice's age in years.
While the rice harvest starts as early as July in the south, in the major rice-producing regions such as Niigata, Hokkaido and Akita prefectures, the current year's crop is available in September and October, making this the best season for shinmai fans.