Japan opposition lawmaker says rice reserves mostly go to chickens

Japan's rice policies put to test as retailers, farmers continue struggling

FUKUOKA -- Some retailers are perplexed by continuing rice shortages in Japan despite the release of government stockpiles, while farmers are also dis

Japan opposition lawmaker says rice reserves mostly go to chickens

A lawmaker of Japan's main opposition party said Saturday that government rice reserves recently put on sale are mostly consumed by chickens, doubling down on remarks that could be perceived as insensitive to people who have snapped up the old rice due to cheaper prices. Kazuhiro Haraguchi of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan made the remarks at a gathering in southwestern Japan to shore up support ahead of the upper house election, e…