In Japan, rice has become more than just a mainstay of the diet, it has become the basis for some of the most popular dishes. nigiris any Makis. It has also become a big headache for several months for the country, which has had to deal with the lowest grain stock in the last 20 years and prices 20, 30 or even 40% higher than in 2023.

From delicious food to the problem of pain.

Rice crisis? That’s it. In Japan, these are not good times for those who love sushi or other rice-based dishes. We told you about this last week. Within a few months, a number of factors came together to cause stock shortages and increased prices in the country.

This particular perfect storm has been influenced by Japanese politics in recent years, the impact of extreme heat on crops, ‘panic buying’ spurred by the threat of ‘mega earthquakes’ in the summer and the country’s tourism boom. Visitors are eager to eat sushi. Grain is scarce. And prices are rising. The most telling image of the crisis came in August, when photos circulated in stores showing signs asking for the purchase of a single pack a day.

Has it become this expensive? The data Nikkei announced today is absolutely remarkable. He assures that rice used in restaurants in Japan is much more expensive today than it was a year ago: between 30% and 40% more, these rates are explained by the crisis and the efforts of companies to guarantee the supply of grain. For reference, Nikkei points to the values ​​managed by JA Group, a conglomerate of regional cooperatives with a large weight in the sector in the country.

The group priced a 60-kilogram bag of a variety of rice commonly used on menus at 15,000 yen ($105). 39 percent more than last year. Nikkei cites another variant, also common among restaurants and companies that produce rice-based foods, that has become 38% more expensive. Now their bags cost around 16,500 yen, which is around $115.

Are there more references? Yes, although the data varies, they all point to an increase in grain prices. Kyodo agency, based on data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, assures that rice prices in August increased by 28.3% compared to the same month last year. CPI in the country. Other sources suggest that packs sold in stores have become 23 percent more expensive: from 1,839 yen (13 euros) to 2,266 yen for five kilos last year.

The scenario is not entirely new. In July, grain had already reached its highest level in the last 11 years. Overall, Nikkei estimates that rice varieties for domestic use have become 10% to 30% more expensive by 2023.

“Any price”. This quote comes from a JA Group employee who recently claimed that in efforts to ensure a stable grain supply amid the crisis, one company even offered to “pay any price” as long as the required quantity was guaranteed. .

In this environment, Japan is seeing operators take on much higher payouts than a year ago in exchange for maintaining their stock, while stores and restaurants are forced to raise prices. The cost of one serving of curry rice, a popular and affordable food in Japan, is estimated to reach 342 yen in the summer months, the highest in almost a decade and about 44 yen more than the previous year. The reason is the increase in vegetable prices and rice shortage.

“It was already exhausted.” A resident of Chiba prefecture on the outskirts of Tokyo told China Daily a few weeks ago that he became aware of the country’s rice crisis in August when he found the shelves empty. “When I went to the supermarket, rice was out of stock. Only foreign brands were left. We started eating noodles more,” he said. Another Ibaraki neighbor complained about “increasingly high” grain prices.

Their complaints are in line with the analysis of experts or organizations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which in recent months have devoted themselves to investigating the causes of the crisis. The latter agency recently warned that stocks had reached a “twenty-year low.”

It’s a complex phenomenon. The rice crisis can only be understood through a combination of factors such as the impact of heat on crops, “panic buying” and rising demand spurred by record levels of tourism. For experts such as CIGS researcher Kazuhito Yamashita, the decisive factor was another: “The policy of reducing the cultivated area.”

Image | Youjeen Cho (Unsplash)

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