20 Retailers Apply for Japan's Stockpiled Rice Under Revised Scheme

20 retailers apply for Japan's stockpiled rice under revised scheme

A total of 20 companies on Tuesday applied to purchase a combined 110,000 tons of the government's stockpiled rice, a day after the farm minister said it will provide rice to the market through direct contracts to curb soaring prices more effectively. The total amount is equivalent to over 30 percent of the 300,000 tons planned for release through direct sales contracts with major retailers, not through auctions as in the releases earlier this y…

How low will rice prices go?

The Japanese government aims to lower rice prices through an unusual method of distributing stockpiles ― selling directly to retailers in a try to bring prices down fast.

At a press conference following the Cabinet meeting on the 27th, Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro revealed that as of 9 am on the 27th, applications had been received from 19 companies for 90,824 tons of stockpiled rice for sale through discretionary contracts. Koizumi stated his opinion that "the stockpiled rice will be handed over as early as the 29th. We are seeing an opportunity for it to be on store shelves in the first week of June." …

Faced with record rice prices, the Japanese government released 300,000 tons of rice from its strategic reserves last March, but the measure did not help alleviate shortages or lower prices. After the resignation of the Minister of Agriculture, Taku Eto, on 21 May 2025, the Japanese authorities decided to change their strategy.

Japan begins selling rice stockpiles via direct contracts

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 per 5 kilograms by early June. The move comes as the government seeks to quell criticism it has…

Procedures Launched to Sell Government Rice at Fixed Prices; Authorities Also Considering Online Sale of Rice

The government on Monday launched procedures to sell state-held reserves of rice through contracts in which the government will set the price of the grain. This represents a change from the sale and delivery of stockpiled rice through public bidding, which is believed to have contributed to soaring prices.