Rice comes at a price (and it keeps going up)

Here in Japan it often feels like rice isn’t just a foodie staple but a big part of the culture, probably exceptionally so here in the koshihikari heartland of Niigata. Watching the prices creep up week after week has been eye-opening to say the least, and it's not a figment of my imagination, either. The Ministry of Agriculture’s latest report confirms what many of us have already noticed in our local supermarket aisles...rice is getting more expensive, and fast.

In mid-April, the average price nationwide hit a record 4,220 yen for a 5 kilogram bag, which is nearly double what it was this time last year. Even as the government rolls out reserve stockpiles, I know that a lot of people (especially those in rural areas or shopping at smaller grocers) are likely staring at limited options and steep price tags.

For me, a simple grocery trip has become a small lesson in Japanese economics and distribution. As the article I linked to above notes, most of the government’s emergency rice has gone through JA Zen-Noh, which supplies big wholesalers. But if your nearest shop sources rice from smaller regional channels, you might not see those reserves at all.

Additionally, the article also suggests that the price hikes may be fueled not only by supply issues but also by fear, with wholesalers stocking up in case of another summer shortage like last year. 

It’s a good reminder to consider different grains, such as barley. The TopValu brand at Aeon has 800 gram bags of it for 321 yen including tax, and it’s packed with fiber so it will help keep you fuller for longer. Mixing it in with rice is a good way to balance it.

Have you been branching out into other grains or eating less rice and substituting with other things?