Japan’s Rice Prices Drop Below ¥3,000 for First Time in Two Years
Japan’s average price for a 5-kilogram bag of rice dropped to 2,971 yen from September 7 to 13, falling below 3,000 yen for the first time since September 2024. Increased inventories, government reserve releases, and higher 2025 harvests contributed to the decline from a peak of 4,416 yen in January 2026, though prices remain above pre-shortage levels.
Good News in the Harvest Season
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries announced that the average price per 5-kilogram bag of rice sold from September 7 to 13 was ¥2,971, down ¥32 from the previous week. The figure is calculated based on information for 1,000 supermarkets nationwide from the data provider KSP-SP. This is the first time this figure has fallen below ¥3,000 since early September 2024. Prices for brand-name rice, which accounts for 85% of total sales, also dropped below ¥3,000, falling ¥35 to ¥2,988. Blended rice fell ¥34 to ¥2,866.
Prices rose steadily after rice shortages in summer 2024, hitting a peak of ¥4,416 per 5-kilogram bag in early January 2026. Since then, however, they have dropped due to a greater supply after the release of government reserves and an increased 2025 harvest reached consumers.
Private-sector inventories climbed to 1.6 million tons as of the end of July, up 700,000 tons from the same period last year and the highest level for July since record-keeping began in 2008. With the harvesting and distribution of this year’s crop shifting into full swing, a noticeable trend has emerged among retailers of discounting their remaining 2025 rice to clear out stock.
Japanese consumers will welcome the opportunity to enjoy newly harvested rice at lower prices. However, the staple is still more expensive than before the shortages, when a 5-kilogram bag retailed for around ¥2,000.
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Source : nippon.com
