Overview

• Average price of a five-kilogram bag fell to 3,920 yen in the week ending June 15, marking the first drop below 4,000 yen since early March.
• Emergency releases of older government reserves have helped replenish supermarket shelves.
• Imports include California-sourced rice sold by Aeon, followed by a 200-ton South Korean shipment that represents the largest private rice export to Japan.
• Recovery remains uneven, with smaller stores in Tokyo reporting persistent shortages and no stock of reasonably priced rice, per the National Supermarket Association.
• Authorities implemented a ban on reselling rice bought at retail stores on June 23 to prevent hoarding, with violators facing prison terms or fines.