Rice prices are Japan's hot political issue, on and off the farm

Rice is hot political issue like eggs and gas in the US.

Or you could have the crap bombed out of you and be facing genocide in Gaza....but, yeah, rice prices...so important

Farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi has pledged to cut prices quicker by selling stockpiled rice directly to retailers -- attracting long queues to some shops.

It appears to be working: the average retail price has edged down for a second week to 4,223 yen for five kilograms, down from a high of 4,285 yen in May.

Working? A massive ￥62 decrease!!!

Not Working.

Government creates problem and then government tries to solve problem...grab yourself some popcorn because this is gonna be good!

Toru Wakui, chairman of a large-scale farm in the northern Akita region who has for decades fought against the acreage reduction, said Japan should "seek an increase in rice production and exports to foreign markets".

"If you only think about the domestic market while increasing output, of course prices will fall," he told AFP. "We need to look for markets abroad."

What overseas consumer would choose to buy Japanese rice when there are so many cheaper alternatives available?

Does this guy know the only reason why the domestic market is buying Japanese rice is because the Japanese government puts a tariff on imported rice (up to 700%)?

In a free market the demand for Japanese rice would plummet. Yet this guy thinks the world wants it.

Fascinating.

Japan like complexity, let make this simple, this rice price problem is only specific to Japan and it's man made. Many countries willing to import rice, with competitive price while Japan doesn't allow competitive tariffs.

Rice price across Asia, excluding Japan, they are declining. Only Japan suffer increasing rice price.

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https://www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/news-research/latest-news/agriculture/013025-weak-international-export-demand-drives-platts-asian-rice-prices-lower

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-03/rice-plunges-the-most-in-16-years-after-india-eases-export-curbs

The graph accompanying this article is informative. Food prices overall have only moderately increased in price, rice is clearly the outlier. So, how about choosing to eat other food in lieu of rice? Is that too hard to figure out? The reality is, cutting back on white rice (or eliminating it entirely) would free up calorie space which could be replaced with wholegrains, legumes, or other food with more nutrients per calorie than rice. This is based on well known nutritional information and is sound advice, not controversial or heretical.

Millet is a good alternative to rice.

What overseas consumer would choose to buy Japanese rice when there are so many cheaper alternatives available?

Does this guy know the only reason why the domestic market is buying Japanese rice is because the Japanese government puts a tariff on imported rice (up to 700%)?

In a free market the demand for Japanese rice would plummet. Yet this guy thinks the world wants it.

Fascinating.

You didn't get his point I think.

In a free market the price of japanese rice would indeed collapse. Not because of imports, but overproduction in Japan. So acreage reduction to keep the farmers income at a certain level. What he's saying is: Export! Don't reduce acreage. At the current prices of course nobody will buy Japanese rice, but at the *normal" prices of course there's a market for high quality japanese rice. Now Japan seems intent on trying that, he says that he's been saying that for decades

Why are there massive tariffs only on rice? Japan should put tariffs on all foodstuffs coming into the country to encourage domestic production. Japan currently imports some 70% of its food. A very dangerous situation.

Japan needs to import soybeans, corn, and wheat because it can't grow enough.

Number of 'hectares' of rice grown in Japan's steadily fallen since 1970 to approx. 1/3 today, and accelerating as rice farmers rapidly retire/die/etc.

Rice imports no longer an option but rather mandatory, as rice effects everyone's 'dinner table' to some degree, making it a very potent political issue, while exposing to all the many failed policies 55 years in the making, and coinciding almost perfectly with the ongoing 'baby' bust

Correlation = Causation?!

@BertieWooster

Why are there massive tariffs only on rice? Japan should put tariffs on all foodstuffs coming into the country to encourage domestic production. Japan currently imports some 70% of its food. A very dangerous situation.

Massive rice tariffs exist due to political pressure from Japanese farmers, not coherent food security policy. Extending tariffs to all foodstuffs would raise prices, harm consumers, provoke trade retaliation, and do little to improve self-sufficiency, as Japan lacks the land, labor, and climate to produce all its own food. The 70% import figure includes animal feed and luxury goods—it's misleading. Food security is better addressed through strategic reserves, diversified trade, and supporting viable domestic agriculture, not blanket protectionism.

Government control caused this and only letting go can help. It isn't that difficult.

while record numbers of tourists are also blamed for a spike in consumption

was going to be in there somewhere…

@BertieWooster

MAFF adds what is called a "mark-up" to grains that can only be imported through a MAFF tender. The "mark-up" is a tariff or tax that increases food costs to Japanese households.

It seems to me that the 'middle man' has a lot to do with the retail end price of rice, while the rice farmer derives only a modest income from its cultivation.

If there was a Rice Growers Cooperative owned by the farmers, it could package and distribute rice directly to retail outlets and/or deliver rice straight to regular customers, reducing the price to the consumer at the same time as giving the farmer a better return.

When rice growing becomes a more rewarding occupation it can attract more younger people to the tranquil benefits of the Japanese rural environment. Not everyone wants the hustle and bustle of city life - but the wisdom in supporting traditional small farming methods and thereby helping to improve Japan's food security is a reality everyone can share.

The elderly people of Japan were fewer and fewer, the labor forces of farming is on shortages. It won't be solved !

If the number of farmers growing rice is an issue, then why not pivot the job market to foreign workers? There are lots of foreigners who have experience in growing rice, especially using traditional methods. Food shortages have started a lot of conflicts, better to plug this proverbial hole in the hull before it starts sinking the ship.

We should probably remember that Japan historically had troubles with food security, and I think this topic should gain more attention and focus from the government over other flashier issues. Eveybody's gotta eat and I'm sure the Japanese love their rice.

Not Working.

My local supermarket 5kg rice bags now available -about 3300yen.

After reading this I learned that rice farming is a scam. The farmers don't get the profits and the consumer gets screwed. But the traders get rich. Instead of Koizumi breaking older supplies, he should penalize the traders. This is market manipulation and illegal.