Bags of Rice at Half Price Will Hit Stores by Early June, Koizumi Says

Japan shakes up rice sales system, targets lower prices by early June

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan began sales of government rice stockpiles via direct contracts on Monday, aiming to slash soaring prices after the newly appoin

The Japanese government will sell its national rice reserves directly to retailers, bringing down prices for consumers, Japan's new agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced, with supplies expected to hit store shelves by early June.

Bags of rice at half price will hit stores by early June, Koizumi says

With necessary costs added on, a 5-kilogram bag of rice is set to cost ¥2,160 at retailers in June.

Japan starts revised rice stocks sales to cut prices by early June

Japan began sales of government rice stockpiles via direct contracts on Monday, aiming to slash soaring prices after the newly appointed farm minister pledged to bring them down to about 2,000 yen ($14) per 5 kilograms by early June.

Japan aims to slash reserve rice prices as costs spike from heat, tourism

TOKYO, May 26 — Japan aims to drastically cut stockpiled rice prices to ¥2,000 (RM59.05) per five kg and speed up getting rice onto shop shelves as consumers suffer from sky-high staple grain costs, the farm ministry said today. Surging rice prices — due in part to crop damage from extreme heat and increasing demand from tourism — are a serious concern for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s government, with its public approval rating stuck around a…

Japan to cut stockpiled rice prices, aiming to ease cost pressures

TOKYO (Reuters): Japan aims to drastically lower prices of stockpiled rice to 2,000 yen ($14) per 5 kilograms (11.02 pounds) and speed up putting rice onto shop shelves as consumers suffer from sky-high staple grain costs, the Farm Ministry said on Monday. Surging rice prices, due in part to crop damage from extreme heat and increasing demand from tourism, are a serious concern for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s government, with its public appr…