Japan Rice Prices Turn Higher despite Arrival of New Crop

Tokyo, Sept. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese retail prices of rice have turned upward again although new rice harvested this year started hitting the shelves. The average rice price at supermarkets across Japan stood at 4,275 yen per 5 kilograms, up for three consecutive weeks, according to data released by the agriculture ministry last week. Retailers are worried that their profits will decrease as shoppers shun rice due to the high prices. In addition, many budget-minded consumers choose the 2024 rice, which is priced lower and therefore leaves slimmer profit margins. Mizuhide Amema, who runs a rice milling shop in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward, explained that procurement prices for rice produced in 2025 rose by up to some 70 pct from the previous year depending on the brand. “We can’t add the increase to our sales prices, so our profit gets squeezed,” Amema said. A rice milling shop in Tokyo’s Kita Ward set its sales prices of new Yumepirika brand rice produced in Hokkaido about 20 pct higher than the year-before level of 1,000 yen per kg. “Rice prices will not go down within this year as rice remains in short supply,” said Hidehisa Shinohara, who runs the shop. “The rice I bought will be consumed in about a month as my wife and I eat it,” said a Kita Ward resident in his 70s who bought 5 kg of newly harvested rice at just under 5,000 yen. “I hope prices will drop as early as possible since rice was sold at around 3,000 yen a few years ago,” he also said. A national supermarket chain has started selling 2025 rice at some stores at the end of August. As of mid-September, 2024 rice accounted for 80 pct of the rice on sale, while this year’s rice made up 20 pct. “Prices of this year’s rice are far higher,” an official of the chain said, adding that this year’s rice has not been selling well to price-sensitive customers. If the situation continues, sales of lower-priced foreign rice may increase, the official predicted. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]