Japan is facing a “rice crisis” as the price of its staple food has nearly doubled over the past year due to high inflation, low farm yields, and a growing tourism sector. The price of Japanese-grown rice rose 98.4 percent in April, with some varieties reaching 5,000 yen ($35) per kilogram. The government has struggled to reduce prices, and emergency measures such as tapping into reserves have been unsuccessful.
The crisis is straining consumer wallets and hurting the popularity of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party. Economists point to several factors contributing to the price surge, including panic buying due to online rumors, a shortage of wheat leading to a rice substitute, and an increase in tourism demand. An unusually hot summer in 2023 also led to poor harvests for Japanese farmers.
As a result, some consumers are opting for cheaper imported varieties, while restaurants have bucked traditional preferences for locally grown rice. If left unchecked, the “rice crisis” could impact Ishiba’s minority government ahead of parliamentary elections later this year. The issue has become a pressing concern for voters, with inflation and cost-of-living crises taking center stage.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/23/japan-faces-a-rice-crisis-as-price-nearly-doubles-for-food-staple