Gov't to expedite release of rice reserves amid surging prices

The ministry suspects that wholesalers and farmers are hoarding rice in anticipation of further price increases

Greed at its best. This has nothing to do with weather or other factors, just pure greed, and if there is one group of farmers who don't need any more help it is rice farmers who are protected and coddled by the government and JA. Time to allow more imports, but I doubt that will ever happen.

"" with the move possibly leading to lower prices.""

Possibly is the key word here, which means it will NOT.

Not a rice eater by nature or hardly eat rice but I know people are getting gouged left right and center in many ways either by price increase or volume reduction either way they are paying more.

Rice retail prices should be established by the government in cases like this one so people can get their fair supplies without getting Ripped Off.

I was told once that Imported Rice from India, Pakistan, China, Vietnam and Thailand coast much less than domestic one for what ever reason.

" I was told once that Imported Rice from India, Pakistan, China, Vietnam and Thailand coast much less than domestic one for what ever reason. "

Protectionism and Japanese superiority complex. Imported rice tastes better. If you need sticky rice for sushi Korean rice is just as good.

Rice exports have increased with the number of new Japanese restaurants in foreign countries. The government needs to abolish the rule to restrict rice growing for higher prices.

you could import....

Dango bongToday  10:09 am JST

you could import....

They do. A huge quantity of Japonica strain rice is bought from Australia, mixed in silos at the port of entry, then sold as 100% Japanese rice, at Japanese prices.

Japanese people eat imported rice every day. They just don't know it.

there is no shortage of rice in Japan.

prices are up because of speculations.to be more plain-its all abt a GREED.

in case if japanese farmers cant make enough/unlikely/gov should lower custom fees for imported rice/say from California/so problem will be solved.

no some kind of "charity" with rice from gov reserves is needed...just use a common sense.

Japan imports short-grain rice from the United States, primarily the Calrose variety. Japan is the second largest importer of milled rice from the US and the US ships about half of the rice Japan imports. 

Food service companies are demanding cheaper, easier-to-cook foreign rice. 

 World Trade Organization commitments require Japan to import 682,000 MT of rice annually, of which the U.S. ships about 50%.

2014: Japan exported 4,516 tons of rice

2015: Japan exported 7,640 tons of rice

2019: Japan exported 17,381 tons of rice

2020: Japan exported 13,556 tons of rice from January to September

2022: Japan exported 28,928 tons of rice, which was a 600% increase from 2014

2023: Japan exported 37,186 tons of rice

Japan's government pays subsidies to rice farmers to encourage them to grow rice for export

Rice Farming in Japan | Rice Library | Plenus 米食文化研究所

https://www.plenus.co.jp/kome-academy/en/kome_library/make.html

I reside very close to the paddies co operatives, my neighbours ageing farmers, small land holders at the mercy of father time.

The veg growers in a similar predicament.

The resulting consequences can be seen in the price fluctuations, and some sometimes depleting supermarket selves.

The higher number of tourists influx adds more demand for rice consumption. Therefore, releasing rise from reserve will offset the surging higher prices.

Gov't to expedite release of rice reserves amid surging prices

Stupid idea. It is akin to Biden depleating the American strategic oil reserve to keep prices low.

"If prices rise further, consumers may stop choosing rice altogether," Eto said at a press conference.

No, they wont. They might eat less of it, or stop buying unnecessary things, which would not be a bad thing.

I was Basmati rice. Without the more than 700% tarriffs.

typo: I WANT Basmati rice. Without the more than 700% tarriffs.

Basmati rice is also available for less money than Japanese rice. ¥1,000/kg Tokyo shop.

https://onlinehalalfood.com/product/basmati-rice/?srsltid=AfmBOoooirZqRrPBSWIhFreTLAZkaUnnKBDyt5X1TodjDqv85gwoPDUJxlU

Japanese people eat imported rice every day. They just don't know it.

exactly, my wife wants to buy a particular local brand, yes almost twice as expensive as a normal Japanese brand. I secretly buy a 10kg bag of US rice, mix it together 50/50, and the family doesnt even know the difference. LOL

wtfjapan

exactly, my wife wants to buy a particular local brand, yes almost twice as expensive as a normal Japanese brand. I secretly buy a 10kg bag of US rice, mix it together 50/50, and the family doesnt even know the difference. LOL

Where do you buy your American rice? Is it more expensive than Japanese rice?

30kg rice early 2023 was around 10000yen, I bought close to 100kg and stored it.

Reading this article, 30kg rice is now 25000yen, 25% increase.

Again, I ask all the "expert economists", if my wage increase 5%, and inflation is 5%, how much increase in savings can I make ? 0%

What's the point of inflation if I can't increase my net-worth through increasing my savings year-on-year ?

No matter how hard the Japanese government tries to control things, it can't control the weather.

This year's rice shortage is due to a poor harvest caused by rising summer temperatures. The same applies to vegetables.

Conversely, the high quality of Japanese food is becoming accepted around the world, and exports are increasing every year.

The original cause of the rice shortage is probably the LDP's rice production reduction policy.

The Japanese government is not responding to the aging of rice farmers.

This situation will not improve unless there is a change in policy in this area and minimum price compensation. Food self-sufficiency remains low.

Imports from countries that grow rice from Japanese seed rice, such as the United States and Australia, are almost the same as Japanese rice, so there should be no problem.

Incidentally, the quality of Korean rice is somewhat better because Japan provided rice suited to Korea during the period of Japanese rule.

California produces 70% of the medium and short grained rice in the United States. Let's talk.

Shouldn't use the word expedite now, way too late