noun
speculative rice trading before harvest
Historical term for a practice in the Edo period: dealing in rice futures while the paddies were still snow-covered, speculating on the year's harvest. Not used in modern Japanese.
江戸時代には白田売買という投機的な米取引が行われていた。
In the Edo period, speculative rice trading called 白田売買 was practiced.
Compound of 白田 (しろた, 'snow-covered rice paddy') and 売買 (ばいばい, 'buying and selling'). The term reflects the practice of trading rice before the snow melted, based on speculation about the harvest.