![Rice prices double in Japan – government takes action [World News]](https://foodcom.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/News-world_21-1520x760.png "Rice prices double in Japan – government takes action [World News]")
- Japan releases 300,000 tonnes of rice to lower prices.
- Policy change: reserves go directly to shops.
- Free distribution – most March deliveries still in warehouses.
- Aeon imports rice from the US in response to high prices.
Japan tackles rice crisis
The Japanese government has announced that it will release an additional 300,000 tonnes of rice from its strategic stockpile by July to alleviate shortages and stop prices from soaring. Retail prices for this staple food are now double what they were a year ago. The situation has been impacted by extreme heat, which has hurt the harvest, and rising demand from the tourism sector.
This is the second state intervention since March, when reserves were first tapped to control prices. The government has also changed its stock policy – rice released from stocks will now be bought back within five years, instead of the previous year. Some of the released stock is to go directly to shops and restaurants, bypassing wholesalers, to speed up availability.
Imports to the rescue – Japanese reach for foreign rice
High prices have caused even discerning Japanese consumers to turn to cheaper imported rice. Supermarket chain Aeon has announced that from June it will introduce Calrose rice sourced 100% from the USA. It had already offered blends containing foreign varieties, which had been met with growing interest from customers.
Meanwhile, the rate of distribution of domestic rice from stockpiles remains a challenge. Of the 212,000 tonnes made available in March, only 2% had reached customers by mid-April. The government has announced tenders for a further 100 000 tonnes in May, June and July. However, the first drop in average prices in 18 weeks gives hope that the situation will stabilise.
