Tokyo: As per reports, Japan is grappling with its most significant rice shortage in decades, driven by a combination of poor weather conditions and a surge in tourism. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently reported that the shortfall has left supermarket shelves empty, as demand for rice has outpaced production for the past three years, causing stock levels to drop to their lowest in over 20 years.
The shortage intensified during the summer of 2024, with consumers stockpiling rice ahead of Japan’s typhoon season and a major earthquake warning. Supermarkets often ran out of white rice in August, leading stores to limit purchases to one bag per customer.
Local media, including NHK, linked the increased demand to the influx of tourists, who have fueled the consumption of rice-based dishes like sushi and onigiri. Prices surged in response, with rice costing 16,133 yen ($112.67) per 60kg in August, marking a 3 percent increase from the previous month and a 5 percent rise since the start of the year.
Japan’s private rice inventories hit a low of 1.56 million tons in June, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MFAA). The ministry also pointed to the rise in food service demand driven by tourists as a key factor behind the shortage, adding pressure to an already strained supply.
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