Overview
- For November 10–16, the agriculture ministry’s broader retail survey found a 5‑kilogram average of ¥4,357, down ¥87 week over week, while the supermarket sample averaged ¥4,260, down ¥56.
- Despite the declines, prices have stayed in the ¥4,000 range for 11 consecutive weeks, indicating a sustained high plateau.
- Government reserve rice sold through discretionary contracts reached a cumulative 187,328 tonnes through November 16, with Tokyo purchasing the most at 16,844 tonnes and Akita the least at 299 tonnes.
- Regional gaps persist, with the Kinki region highest at ¥4,561 per 5 kilograms and only Chugoku–Shikoku and Kyushu–Okinawa averaging in the ¥3,000 range.
- The ministry has outlined a supplemental budget plan to back distribution models for lower-priced, high-yield varieties via long-term supply deals, responding to a narrow price range on shelves as cheaper reserve rice has largely disappeared.