Rice Crisis in Reiwa Year 6 Could Turn a Bowl of Rice into a Luxury Item
Disappeared from supermarkets! While the harvest has been drastically reduced due to the extremely hot summer, the supply has not been able to keep up with the end of the COVID-19 crisis and a sharp increase in inbound sales, and a series of natural disasters have led to rampant hoarding, resulting in a triple punch that has caused a string of out-of-stock situations.
In Saitama, the rice section of a nationwide chain supermarket is literally empty. When will the next shipment of rice arrive?“Rice has disappeared from the shelves.”
Consumers across the country are crying out. What is happening to Japan’s staple food, which has boasted a self-sufficiency rate close to 100% since the Showa era?
In late August, when a FRIDAY reporter visited several supermarkets in Tokyo and Saitama, many stores had completely empty rice sections or had imposed purchase limits such as “one per family.” It seems the situation is developing into a Reiwa-era rice crisis. Although there is an abundance of other carbohydrates like bread and pasta, why is rice the only one missing?
“First, last year’s severe heatwave reduced the rice harvest. Even farmers I know have lamented that ‘we couldn’t harvest any rice.’ Amid this, a surge in inbound tourists caused a rapid increase in demand for sushi and rice bowls, making it difficult to keep up with rice supply. Additionally, with natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons occurring this year, some people have started stockpiling rice for emergency use. The combination of these factors has led to the rice shortages” (Consumer Economics Analyst Hiroaki Watanabe).
The heatwave also affects rice quality
The “anomalies” with rice are not limited to a decrease in production. Journalist Atsuo Tanaka, who is knowledgeable about Japanese agriculture and forestry, points out that the quality of domestic rice is declining.
“Major varieties like Koshihikari and Akita Komachi struggle with photosynthesis under prolonged high temperatures, resulting in insufficient starch production. When there is a shortage of starch, the rice ends up with poor shape and color. Last year’s severe heatwave drastically reduced the amount of domestic rice meeting the established quality standards, leading to a significant decrease in distribution. This year, we are facing an even hotter summer. Unless we develop new methods for managing paddies and cultivating rice that can withstand high temperatures, Japan may face a situation where rice can no longer be harvested.”
On August 16 of this year, it was announced that the wholesale price of rice from the July 2023 harvest has increased by 13% compared to the same month last year. This will directly impact retail prices in stores. A supermarket operator in Tokyo reveals:
“Compared to April this year, we have raised the price of 5 kg of domestic rice by about 600 yen. This is due to the decrease in rice inventory available in the market and the soaring purchase prices. We may increase the price by a few hundred yen more in the future. Domestic rice may become a luxury item for ordinary households.”
While foreigners are buying up Japanese products due to the weak yen, there may come a day when rice disappears from our tables.
From the September 6-13, 2024 issue of ‘FRIDAY’.
PHOTO： Kazuhiko Nakamura
