Japan's Rice Stocks Plummet to Record Lows

Tourism surge and extreme heat lead to lowest rice inventories since 1999, officials report.

Japan's rice stockpiles fell to 1.56 million tons in June, a 20% decrease from the previous year.
The decline is attributed to high temperatures, water shortages, and increased demand from tourists.
Foreign visitors to Japan hit a record high, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
The trading price for rice has reached a 30-year high, prompting some supermarkets to raise prices and limit purchases.
Despite the low stocks, officials assure that there are no immediate rice shortages.