For the week ending January 4th, the average price of rice at approximately 1,000 supermarkets across Japan increased by 93 yen compared to the previous week, reaching 4,416 yen (US$28.16) per 5kg bag. Prior to that, in the week ending December 28th, 2025, this average price had seen a slight decrease of 14 yen, to 4,323 yen.
A detailed analysis of the price structure shows that the price of "branded rice," mainly newly harvested rice, increased by 21 yen to 4,516 yen. Notably, this group of branded rice accounted for 74% of total rice sales, up 2 percentage points from the previous period. Meanwhile, the price of blended rice, which is usually cheaper, recorded a sharp increase of 261 yen, although its market share decreased to 26%.
Another independent survey conducted at approximately 1,200 supermarkets also noted a similar trend, with the average price of rice increasing by 291 yen, reaching 4,176 yen.
Japan's food security policy is at a critical juncture as the price of rice – a staple food for the nation – continues to remain at record highs, placing a significant burden on household spending.
Agriculture Minister Norikazu Suzuki reaffirmed his stance of "non-intervention in prices." He emphasized that the top priority is ensuring output, including export demand, before considering increasing production. Minister Suzuki warned that if farmers increase production before creating overseas demand, rice prices will plummet due to oversupply.
Besides the issue of prices, Japan is also facing a severe labor crisis. Regional agricultural land use plans for the next 10 years show that up to 30% of the land has an undetermined need for cultivation. Minister Suzuki acknowledged that the shortage of successors stems from the fact that farming is less profitable than other industries.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thi-truong-tien-te/gia-gao-nhat-ban-lap-ky-luc-moi-20260111113436717.htm
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