In Japan the farmers were poor, they were like peasants, but unlike Medieval Europe few actually had money, they would spend this to buy their own farm instead of renting it. This and the fact the food was vital is why they were below samurai on the Feudal System and ahead of the merchants. Unfortunately even though they made so much food, mostly rice, they could not eat it. This meant some poor farmers had to eat barnyard grass or millet. Farmers with more money could afford real food though, maybe even someone elses rice! The main reason they couldn't eat rice though was that taxes were high and rice was expensive
