japanese too poor to eat rice liou

Rice prices in Japan's supermarkets hit record high
Friday, Nov. 14
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20251114_20/

The average price of rice sold at supermarkets in Japan has hit a record high. The figure for a 5-kilogram bag of the staple was 4,316 yen, or about 28 dollars, in the week through Sunday.

A survey by the agriculture ministry covers about 1,000 supermarkets across the country. The price was up 81 yen, or about 52 cents, from the week before. The average rose for a second straight week.

The latest figure is the highest since the survey began in March 2022, topping 4,285 yen reached in mid-May this year.

The ministry cites as factors contributing to the hike continued high prices of newly harvested rice, and a decline in the sales volume of lower-priced government stockpile rice.

Another survey of about 6,000 supermarkets, drugstores and other types of retailers in the country showed the average price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice at 4,444 yen, or roughly 29 dollars. The figure is a record high since the start of the survey in February this year.