A 5-kilogram bag of rice cost 4,280 yen (£ 21) in May 2025, double the price compared to the same period a year ago, Japanese media reported on Friday.
The price increase was caused by a supply shortage that began in 2023, when severe heat severely affected the rice harvest in Japan. Extreme temperatures not only deteriorated the quality of the harvest, but also led to a sharp decline in production.
In response, the government began releasing rice from state reserves. Now, long queues form outside shops for reserve rice long before opening time. According to local media reports, some shoppers start queuing as early as 8 p.m. the night before.
At the beginning of July, the shelves in Tokyo shops are often empty. In addition, supermarkets have introduced rationing: no more than one bag of rice per family per day.
Nobuhiko Kurosawa, a farmer from Yamagata, is concerned about what might happen next.
“The Japanese government has already released most of its rice reserves, and if this summer turns out to be as hot as the last one, the consequences could be disastrous,” Kurosawa is quoted as saying by the media.
“If stocks run out and the quality of rice suffers again from the heat, Japan may have to import significant quantities. The food problem is not just a problem for farmers, it is a problem for everyone who eats,” he also added.
Although the rice situation in Japan is particularly acute, it is part of a broader trend: food prices are rising steadily around the world. From staple foods such as grains and vegetable oil to fresh vegetables, fruit and meat, inflation is putting pressure on household budgets everywhere, not just in Japan.
