Business · Economy · 56 mins ago
Japan’s rice prices fall as supplies build up
More rice is reaching Japan’s market, pushing prices down after shortages and sharp increases that began in 2024.
The government released rice from its reserves in 2025, and consumers and restaurants also turned to cheaper reserve rice and imports while the 2025 harvest was being sold.
Some of that harvest remains unsold, and private businesses held a record 2.43 million metric tons of rice in June 2026, above the government’s appropriate stock level of 2 million tons.
The 2026 harvest is still expected to be abundant, with output projected to fall by only about 1% from the previous year.
The average price of 5 kilograms of rice at about 1,000 Japanese supermarkets reached 2,821 yen in the week ending Oct.
18, its tenth consecutive weekly decline.
Farmers fear low prices will leave them losing money, especially as fuel and fertilizer costs rise.
Agriculture Minister Arata Takebe says prices should let farmers keep producing and investing while remaining acceptable to consumers, but how to achieve that remains uncertain.
Japan’s rice prices are falling as supplies build up after shortages and high prices.
Private-sector rice inventories reached a record 2.43 million metric tons in June 2026.
The average price of 5 kilograms of rice was 2,821 yen in the week from Oct. 12 to 18, marking a tenth consecutive weekly decline.
The projected 2026 harvest is expected to be abundant, while some rice from the 2025 harvest remains unsold.
Farmers warn that lower prices and rising input costs could make rice production unsustainable.
- Who
- Japanese consumers, rice farmers and the government are affected. Agriculture Minister Arata Takebe has addressed the issue.
- What
- Rice prices are falling as supplies increase and unsold rice remains in the market.
- When
- Prices declined for ten consecutive weeks through the week of Oct. 12 to 18, 2026.
- Where
- Japan.
- Why
- More rice is reaching the market, including unsold rice from the 2025 harvest, while the 2026 harvest is expected to be abundant.
Rice farmers
Consumers
Prices and production costs
Rice farmers
Farmers warn that lower prices, alongside higher fuel and fertilizer costs, could leave them operating at a loss.
Consumers
Consumers have welcomed cheaper rice.
Appropriate price level
Rice farmers
Farmers need prices that allow them to continue production and reinvest.
Consumers
The agriculture minister says prices should also remain acceptable to consumers.
Japan began experiencing rice shortages and soaring prices in what became known as the Reiwa-era rice upheaval.
The government released rice from its stockpiles, and increased imports followed as rice remained expensive and hard to obtain.
Shipments of rice from the 2025 harvest began, but some of the crop remained unsold as consumers and restaurants chose cheaper alternatives.
Private-sector rice inventories reached a record 2.43 million metric tons.
Projections showed the 2026 staple rice harvest would be about 76,000 tons, or 1%, below the previous year.
The average price of 5 kilograms of rice at about 1,000 supermarkets was 2,821 yen, down for the tenth consecutive week.
- Private-sector inventories
- 2.43 million metric tons in June 2026, a record
- Appropriate stock level
- 2 million tons
- Projected 2026 harvest change
- About 76,000 tons, or 1%, below the previous year
- Average rice price
- 2,821 yen per 5 kilograms, Oct. 12–18, 2026
- Price trend
- Ten consecutive weeks of declines
What people are saying
It is important for rice prices to settle at a level that allows producers to continue production and reinvestment while also remaining acceptable to consumers.
If rice becomes oversupplied and the prices paid to farmers fall, we will be forced into the red and may no longer be able to continue farming.