6 June 2025
With people in Japan lining up for rice, rice has now become a major crisis point for the Japanese government and people. Rice prices in Japan are continuously rising because of crop damage due to extreme heat and a boom in tourism.
In comparison to last year, rice prices in Japan have doubled raising concerns have for consumers and policymakers ahead of key elections in Tokyo and across Japan in June and July. Japan’s Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro said that the ministry of agriculture will sell a total of 3 lakh tonnes of rice directly to retailers from the 2021 and 2022 crop stocks. The price of this rice will be about half the average price of rice sold in recent auctions.
Popular Koshihikari rice is now selling for 5,000 yen for 5 kg whereas the other types of rice are being sold at 4,200 yen. Agriculture Minister Koizumi said that “we must consider all options to get the prices”. Soon after taking charge of the office, Koizumi ended the slow and cumbersome distribution system of rice storage through auction to cooperatives and wholesalers. The Japan rice price hike is hurting normal people as rice is the staple food of Japan.