In the spring of 2025, a topic called the “Reiwa rice riot” has been making waves on social media and in the news. It all started with a “slip of the tongue” made by a certain Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the average price of rice per 5 kg sold at supermarkets nationwide from April 28 to May 4 was 4,214 yen. This is roughly double the price of the previous fiscal year.
Agriculture Minister Eto’s remarks cause controversy
“I’ve never bought rice,” “I have so much rice I can sell it.”
These comments by Taku Eto, who served as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, angered farmers and consumers nationwide, leading to his dismissal. As he was a member of the agriculture and forestry faction, whose support base was the JA, a debate arose within the ruling party over how to treat him. His successor was Shinjiro Koizumi, who was announced as the new Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on May 23rd. His proposed policy of “2,000 yen for stockpiled rice” has attracted both positive and negative attention.
What is the “2,000 yen rice stockpile” policy that Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is talking about?
At a press conference on the day of his inauguration, Minister Koizumi said, “We will put stockpiled rice on the shelves at around 2,000 yen for 5 kilograms. We want to make it available anywhere in the country, including through online sales.”6It was announced that from June onwards, they would be moving to a new system of directly entering into contracts with retailers through “discretionary contracts.” Over 70 companies have already applied for this policy, and it appears that the 30 tons for June has been almost fully booked and applications have been halted. The released stockpile rice is expected to be sold at a lower price, but it is unclear whether the price of general distribution rice, which is the mainstream in the market, will fall in tandem with this.
* What is a negotiated contract?
A type of administrative contract conclusion method in which the national or local government concludes a contract with a party selected at its own discretion without competitive bidding.
What is stockpiled rice? How much has been shipped?
“Stockpiled rice” refers to the rice that the government keeps on hand at all times, at a rate of around 1 million tons, in preparation for natural disasters or disruptions to the supply and demand balance.
To date 4 releasesThe total amount has reached approximately 410,000 tons.
| Number of releases | Shipment volume |
| Episode 1 | Approximately 140,000 tons |
| Episode 2 | Approximately 70,000 tons |
| Episode 3 | Approximately 100,000 tons |
| Episode 4 | Approximately 100,000 tons |
| 5th (planned) | 30 tons are scheduled to be released in June (discretionary contract) |
However, since most of the stockpiled rice is “old rice” (stored for more than one year), it has been pointed out that there are differences in flavor and cooked rice, and promoting consumer understanding and disclosing information are issues. The stockpiled rice is scheduled to be released until July, before the new rice becomes available.
Three reasons why rice prices are soaring
Let’s take a look at the background to the recent “rising rice prices.” The following reasons are considered.
- Rising prices of fertilizer and other materials
Due to the Ukraine crisis and the weak yen, the import prices of fertilizer and other materials have risen, significantly increasing production costs. - Lack of sunlight and bad weather
The summer of 2024 will see a record lack of sunlight, resulting in reduced yields nationwide. Poor harvests will be a factor in pushing up prices. - Aging and declining rice farming population
Due to a shortage of rice farmers, the number of farmers continuing to grow rice in paddy fields across the country is decreasing, and there are concerns about a long-term supply shortage.
Future measures and government actions [Chronological summary]
| date | event |
| Early April | Reports of a sudden rise in rice prices begin to appear |
| Mid April | Former Agriculture Minister Eto’s gaffe → dismissal |
| May 23 | Shinjiro Koizumi becomes Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and announces “Rice Stockpiling Policy” |
| June onwards | Plans to release 30 tons of stockpiled rice through discretionary contract, with online sales also in sight |
Summary | “Rice” is culture. Make a choice to support Japan’s future
Rice is an essential part of the Japanese diet; it is not just a staple food but also a part of culture. The current “rice riots” are also events that call into question what kind of society we live in and what kind of food we want to protect. To protect farmers and ensure a sustainable diet, some of the actions we can take now include choosing locally grown rice, avoiding excessive hoarding, and keeping a close eye on system reforms. As consumers, we too should take an increased interest in domestically grown rice and local farmers, and take action so that we can become part of protecting a sustainable food culture.
🔽Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website
▲Aikawa Town, Kanagawa Prefecture
▲Toyama Prefecture, Suganuma Gassho Style Village
▲Awaji Island: Sunset and rice terraces
▲Terasaka Rice Terraces, Saitama Prefecture
topics that are attracting attention like this in the future.
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