Rice Prices Hit 5000 Yen Customers Forced to Buy 2kg Bags as New Rice Remains Expensive

The scream of a supermarket employee

The rise in rice prices shows no sign of stopping.

“Right now, there are still products in the 3000 yen range, but once the sale period ends, all products will be in the 4000 yen range,”

A food section employee at a home center in Saitama Prefecture lamented that.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the average price of 5kg of rice sold in supermarkets during the week starting from March 3 was 4077 yen, which is more than 2000 yen higher compared to the same period in 2024. The price increase continues, with concerns raised that it may surpass 5000 yen.

“In our store, we handle 5kg bags of rice in 9 varieties. Of these, 7 varieties exceed 4000 yen. We sell ‘Akita Komachi,’ ‘Koshihikari,’ and popular varieties from Hokkaido, but the prices have been rising since last year,” said one employee.

In fact, the price of rice in inter-business transactions has risen by 73% compared to the same period last year, marking a sixth consecutive month of price increases.

“Many customers with growing children have opted for imported rice, saying, ‘We can’t afford to be choosy.’ We also used to carry California rice, which was nearly 1000 yen cheaper than Japanese rice.

However, the taste seems to be divisive—some customers said it tasted just like Japanese rice, while others said they would never buy it again.”

When I visited the store, there were no imported rice products available, and they mentioned, “We don’t know when the next shipment will arrive.” The cheapest rice on the shelf that day was Hokkaido rice priced in the high 3000 yen range.

“These prices are due to a special promotion, but once the sale period ends, we won’t be able to offer them at this price. The stock is also limited, so we are adjusting the number of products displayed to avoid selling out before the sale ends.”

In response to the price surge, many 2kg bags, which were previously not as common, are now being stocked.

“It seems that customers who used to buy 5kg bags regularly have reduced their purchase frequency and are buying 2kg bags instead. Since we have many elderly customers, this trend might be more pronounced here.”

Overall rice sales have increased compared to the same month last year. “Of course, the price increase has contributed to this, but I eat rice every day too. I hope that the government’s rice stockpiles will help lower prices, even if just a little. Honestly, I can’t predict if prices will drop right now.”

Yutaka Nishijima, a certified rice master and owner of a rice store in Tokyo, shared his thoughts:

“How consumers perceive stockpiled rice is crucial. If they are willing to accept stockpiled or older rice and are just looking for cheaper options, rice prices will likely stabilize. On the other hand, if consumers reject stockpiled rice and avoid cheaper options, popular varieties like Koshihikari and Akita Komachi will continue to rise in price.

New rice will be released this fall, but many suppliers have already pre-purchased it at high prices, so prices are unlikely to drop. Honestly, it’s highly likely we will enter the new rice season at these high prices.”

Our staple food has now become a luxury item.