Wholesale prices fall sharply
The average price of rice sold from collectors to wholesalers fell 42% from a year earlier in September 2026, to ¥21,293 per 60 kilograms of brown rice, the agriculture ministry said on 16 October. It was the first month that transactions for the 2026 crop were included in the data.
Supermarket prices follow
Retail prices have also dropped. A standard 5-kilogram bag averaged ¥2,971 at supermarkets in mid-September, below ¥3,000 for the first time since September 2024. Prices had peaked at ¥4,416 in January 2026, after a shortage that began in 2024.
A reversal of the shortage
The shift from scarcity to surplus has created problems for growers. The ministry plans to buy back about 210,000 tonnes of rice to rebuild government reserves. It also projects the 2026 harvest at about 7.4 million tonnes, down roughly 1% from the year before, while private stocks remain high.
Why it matters beyond the farm
Rice is a staple across Japan, and its price affects household budgets, restaurants and the inflation numbers the Bank of Japan tracks. For foreign residents and visitors, lower prices are visible in supermarkets and convenience stores. For more, see our economy section and food coverage.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, rice transaction prices for September 2026 (released 16 October 2026).
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