Japan’s rice supply is in shortfall despite last year’s record harvest, leaving experts puzzled over the true cause behind the crisis. Expectations were high that the larger yield would ease supply constraints, yet consumers now face soaring prices, prompting widespread frustration and a scramble for emergency government stocks.
This staple, integral to traditional Japanese meals, is now at the heart of a social storm. Not only are everyday shoppers angry, but sake brewers and restaurant operators are also feeling the pinch. Some supermarkets have imposed purchase limits, while elderly farmers in rural communities send rice to their families in Tokyo. Meanwhile, social media buzzes with theories about the mysterious shortage. The crisis has even influenced economic policy, contributing to the Bank of Japan’s decision in January to raise interest rates, which in turn strengthened the yen.
At the core of the issue lies Japan’s intricate rice distribution system. Farmers sell their crop to collection agents, who then supply wholesalers, and finally, retailers. Despite last year’s harvest increasing by 180,000 tons, collection agents report a gap of 230,000 tons between the harvest and what they could acquire. The agricultural ministry, charged with monitoring this key commodity, remains baffled by the missing rice.
“It is clear that the rice exists, but much of it is being hoarded somewhere within the distribution chain, creating the apparent shortage,” explained Agriculture Minister Taku Eto during a press conference on February 21.
（By Ziqi Qin)
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