米 and 稲: Rice and the rice plant in a field
Compare 米 being washed or described as growing with 稲 standing in a field or appearing golden. Preserve the rice-crop wording and keep observation separate from harvest.
米 being washed or growing
「夕食のために米を三合洗った。」 — “I washed three measures of rice for dinner.” 米を identifies what was washed, and 三合 gives its quantity. 洗った reports completed washing, without reporting the later cooking of rice.
「この地域では香りのよい米が育つ。」 — “Fragrant rice grows in this region.” The Japanese example uses 米が育つ. 米 is therefore not restricted to grain waiting to be washed; it is also used when describing rice grown in this region.
稲 observed in a field
「初夏の田んぼに若い稲が並んでいる。」 — “Young rice plants stand in rows in the early-summer paddies.” 若い稲 describes young rice plants standing in the early-summer field. 田んぼに gives the location, without reporting harvesting or eating.
「秋風に揺れる稲が黄金色に見えた。」 — “The rice swaying in the autumn wind looked golden.” The plants swaying in the wind appeared golden. 見えた reports an observed appearance, not completion of the harvest.
Read both names without narrowing the evidence
The washing example for 米 and the field observations for 稲 show different naming focuses. Keep 米が育つ as well; 米 is not confined in every sentence to uncooked grain before washing.
Standing in a field and appearing golden are descriptions of a plant’s location and appearance. Neither observing 稲 nor washing 米 adds completed harvesting, cooking, or eating.
Can 米 always be explained only as grain before washing, given 「この地域では香りのよい米が育つ」?
Show the answer and why
No. The Japanese example uses 米が育つ to describe rice growing in the region. Preserve that example alongside the washing example, and compare 稲 through the field-plant observations.