Minoru hodo Atama no Sagaru Inaho Kana " The mature rice plant lowers its head "

Maturity brings humility and respect for others.

When rice is mature and ready to harvest, the heaviness at the top of the plant pulls it down low to the ground. Japanese see this as analogous to how the wisdom of years fills a man with fumility and caused his head to bow heavily in his dep respect for life and nature.