Germination is controlled by internal factors of seeds and external factors such as water, temperature and light. We investigated the relationship between germination characteristics of four waxy rice cultivars and patterns of water uptake, antioxidant enzymes and free soluble sugars during early imbibition. Seed viabilities by tetrazolium test of four different rice cultivars were higher than 95% and germination rates of the hulled rice seeds were on 95% average. However, germination rate of intact rice among four cultivars showed a big difference depending on temperature. Water uptake of hulled and intact rice seeds during imbibition reached a stationary phase at around 30% moisture content. Although rates of water uptake were faster in hulled rice and high temperature than intact rice and low temperature condition, difference of those among cultivars was greater under low temperature than high temperature. The time required for rice seeds to uptake 30% water was negatively correlated with percentage of germination, germination energy, germination speed and mean germination time. Guaiacol peroxidase activity during the first 24h of imbibition was correlated with germination energy and germination speed but not percentage of germination. Catalase activity, soluble protein and maltose concentration at 24h of imbibition were not correlated with characteristics of germination. These results suggest that a time required for rice seeds to uptake 30% of water significantly correlated with germination and guaiacol peroxidase activity during early imbibition plays an important role in initiation of germination.