Japan Faces Rice Price Surge Over 90% Amid Crop Shortages, Consumer Strain

Japan is facing a severe rice crisis marked by prices nearly doubling due to a combination of factors including poor harvests caused by extreme heat, surging demand from a revival in tourism, panic buying fueled by earthquake rumors, and a longstanding decline in rice production and farming succession. The government has responded by releasing large quantities of rice from emergency stockpiles, with 300,000 tonnes announced for release in July following a previous 200,000 tonnes in March, but distribution challenges have prevented price stabilization. The soaring prices have strained household budgets, led to rice hoarding and theft, and contributed to significant public dissatisfaction, impacting the popularity of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his administration. Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has vowed to accelerate stockpile releases at prices lower than current market levels and is changing the auction system to discretionary contracts to better manage supply. Despite these interventions, critics argue that the crisis exposes deeper structural issues in Japan's rice sector, including reduced cultivated land, an aging farmer population, and government policies that historically prioritized limiting production over boosting consumption. The government is also facing pressure to reform agricultural policies to prevent future shortages and price spikes amid climate challenges and shifting consumer behavior.