Japan is currently facing a shortage of rice, with supermarket shelves empty and purchase restrictions in place. The combination of declining supplies due to last summer’s severe heat and the return of inbound tourists has led to this situation. While shipments of rice harvested in 2024 are expected to alleviate the shortage by late September, rice prices have skyrocketed.
At a direct sales outlet in Fukuoka Prefecture, an employee from JA Chikushi informed a customer that the brand of rice he intended to buy had sold out. The customer expressed surprise at seeing an empty space where the brown rice should have been, stating that he had never experienced such a situation before.
The shortage can be attributed to the deterioration in the quality of rice caused by last summer’s severe heat. Simultaneously, there has been a significant increase in demand due to businesses catering to inbound tourism, which is currently growing at an unprecedented rate.
According to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, as of June-end, the stock of rice in the private sector was at its lowest level ever recorded – 1.56 million tons – marking a decrease of approximately 20% compared to the same month last year.
Furthermore, an earthquake that occurred on August 8 with its epicenter off Miyazaki Prefecture’s coast has further exacerbated the situation. Some individuals rushed to buy rice as part of their preparations for a potential Nankai Trough megaquake. However, despite these concerns, the ministry has urged calmness among citizens and assured them that once full shipments from the 2024 harvest arrive, there will no longer be any shortage.
The scarcity issue has also impacted rice prices significantly. In June alone, trading prices for 60 kilograms of rice across all brands averaged ¥15,865 between Japan Agricultural Cooperatives and wholesalers – reaching their highest level in approximately eleven years since August 2013 when there was a shortage following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Although prices slightly declined in July compared to June figures; they still remained around 13% higher than those recorded during July last year.