Japan Rice Prices Fall 5.4% in May, First Drop Since November 2022
Updated
Updated · ARAB NEWS · Jun 19
Japan Rice Prices Fall 5.4% in May, First Drop Since November 2022
3 articles · Updated · ARAB NEWS · Jun 19
Summary
Japan’s rice prices excluding koshihikari fell 5.4% in May from a year earlier, the first decline since November 2022 after more than three years of sharp increases.
Government measures including emergency stockpile releases helped push prices lower, easing pressure that had built as rice costs surged through 2024 and 2025.
A 10-kilogram bag has reappeared in the 4,000-yen ($25) range, but shoppers still say rice remains expensive compared with a few years ago.
The earlier spike was driven by heat-damaged harvests, trader hoarding, panic-buying after a 2024 megaquake warning, stronger demand for domestic rice and tourism, while long-term farm cutbacks and an aging grower base worsened shortages.