US EditionJapan rice prices double, raising pressure on PM
JAPAN, JUL 18 – Rice prices in Japan surged nearly 100% in June due to harvest damage and panic buying, intensifying inflation and election challenges for Prime Minister Ishiba, officials said.
- On July 18, 2025, rice prices in Japan soared 99.2% in June year-on-year, putting pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of elections this weekend.
- Factors behind the surge include shortages from an intensely hot and dry summer two years ago and panic buying in 2024 after a government warning about a potential `megaquake`.
- Consumer prices excluding energy and fresh food rose 3.4% in June, while rice costs rocketed 101% in May after climbing 98.4% in April and 92.5% in March.
- Support levels for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have fallen to their lowest since October, while opinion polls suggest his ruling coalition may lose its upper house majority.
- Japan is under additional pressure to reach a trade deal with the United States before new 25% tariffs take effect on Aug 1, and US President Donald Trump threatened that Japan would `pay 30%, 35%, or whatever the number is that we determine`.
Insights by Ground AI
Does this summary seem wrong?
60 Articles
60 Articles
How the soaring cost of rice is shaping a high-stakes election in Japan
Japan’s ongoing rice shortage is bringing greater awareness to farmers’ issues, and greater scrutiny to the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party, ahead of critical parliamentary elections.
·Boston, United States
Read Full Article
Channel News Asia+50 Reposted by 50 other sources
Japan rice prices double, raising pressure on PM
TOKYO: Rice prices in Japan soared 99.2 per cent in June year-on-year, official data showed Friday (Jul 18), piling further pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ahead of elections this weekend. The price of the grain already rocketed
·Singapore
Read Full Article
Japanese elections: The price of rice has nearly doubled in Japan over the past year. This plays a major role in the Upper House elections on April 20…
·Netherlands
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources60
Leaning Left9Leaning Right8Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Center
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources are Center
45% Center
L 29%
C 45%
R 26%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
