Curb the Soaring Rice Prices: The Full Picture of Additional Release of Government Stockpiled Rice and Resale Regulations

Table of Contents

1. Background of Rice Price Surge — What is the "Rice Shock 2025"?

2. What is Government Stockpiled Rice: Purpose, Quantity, and Cycle

3. Breakdown and Schedule of Additional 200,000 Tons Release

4. Legal Basis and Penalties for Resale Regulations

5. Commonalities and Differences with Mask Resale Ban

6. How Businesses and E-commerce Platforms Respond

7. Impact on Consumers: Household Budgets, Food Service Industry, School Meals

8. International Perspective: Overseas Stockpiling, Export Regulations, and Implications for Japan

9. Medium to Long-term Issues — Agricultural Policy, Imported Rice, Climate Change

10. Summary and Future Checkpoints
    
    
    

1. Background of Rice Price Surge — What is the "Rice Shock 2025"?

Due to extreme heat and heavy rain since 2023, production has decreased, and combined with high transportation costs and a weak yen, the average price per 5kg reached 4,223 yen by June 2025, almost double the previous year.bloomberg.com


Domestic and international media have reported on the "Rice Shock," leading to reductions in school meal menus and price hikes in restaurant chains. The inbound demand from the revival of tourism has also strained inventories.

2. What is Government Stockpiled Rice

Since the poor harvest due to cold weather in 1993, Japan has been stockpiling staple rice at a target scale of about 900,000 tons. The stockpiled rice is circulated every five years in principle, with old rice being used for processing or export. The inventory for fiscal 2025 is about 912,000 tons, with 250,000 tons available for release as a "price stabilization reserve."maff.go.jp

3. Breakdown and Schedule of Additional 200,000 Tons Release

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced that starting June 11, 100,000 tons of 2021 rice will be sold to small and medium-sized retailers through negotiated contracts, followed by 100,000 tons of 2020 rice once the limit is reached.english.kyodonews.netenglish.kyodonews.net


The order form was opened at noon on the same day, and approximately 2,200 companies, including mass retailers and rice milling businesses, began applying. To reduce transportation costs, the use of rail transport and local ports is recommended.

4. Legal Basis and Penalties for Resale Regulations

4-1. Framework for Government Ordinance Amendment

The government will amend the Emergency Measures for Stabilizing National Life Enforcement Ordinance to add "rice" to the list of regulated items. The targets for enforcement are

• stockpiled rice purchased for resale purposes as a business

• acts of selling at high prices on online auctions or flea market apps
  
  
  

4-2. Penalties

Violators may face up to one year of imprisonment or a fine of up to 1 million yen (both may be imposed), and confiscation is also possible.risktaisaku.comchugoku-np.co.jp
The ordinance can be enforced as early as three days after being published in the official gazette following cabinet approval, potentially taking effect by the end of June.

5. Similarities and Differences with Mask Resale Ban

While using the same law as the mask and disinfectant resale ban during the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the first time "food" is being targeted. Market surveillance will be a joint effort by the National Police Agency and the Consumer Affairs Agency, and e-commerce operators have already implemented AI-based listing filters.nippon.com
Learning from the difficulties in enforcing mask regulations, measures such as digital evidence preservation and immediate deletion obligations for operators are expected to be included.

6. How Businesses and E-commerce Platforms Will Respond

• **Yahoo! Auctions** will completely ban listings in the stockpiled rice category as of May 29.nippon.com

• Mercari will limit prices to "published price + 10%" and automatically delete violating listings.

• Retail chains will limit purchases to 10kg per household per week and ensure strict identity verification.

7. Impact on Consumers

7-1. Household Finances

The average wholesale price of the released stock is about 290 yen per kg, which is 30% cheaper than the current market price. Assuming a monthly consumption of 6-8 kg for an average household, an annual reduction in expenses of approximately 6,000 yen is expected.

7-2. Dining Out and School Meals

Major beef bowl chains commented that they can maintain prices in the latter half of this fiscal year. Local governments are expected to maintain the rice ratio in school meals.

8. International Perspective

Amid ongoing global food inflation, imported rice from the United States, South Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan is being considered, with discussions on proposals for "blends" based on taste and use. The Guardian reported a "seismic shift in Japanese perceptions of rice."theguardian.com
In other countries, India imposed export restrictions on non-basmati rice in 2023, and Thailand temporarily released domestic stocks, accelerating movements concerning food sovereignty.

9. Medium to Long-Term Issues

• Strengthening Production Base: Support for the introduction of smart agricultural machinery and income compensation for young farmers

• Climate Change Measures: Promotion of high-temperature resistant varieties like "Niji no Hikari"

• Diversification of Imports: Flexible use of tariff quotas through FTAs

• Consumer Education: Promotion of food loss reduction and long-term storage techniques
  
  
  
  
  

10. Summary and Future Checkpoints

1. Official promulgation and enforcement date of the revision of the government ordinance (expected by the end of June)

2. Actual distribution trends and price ripple effects of additional released rice

3. Presence or absence of the first case of penalty application and its deterrent effect

4. Crop conditions and wholesale prices of new rice for 2025

5. Reconstruction of long-term food security policy

The government plans to manage the situation with "resale regulation × stock release," but stable supply cannot be achieved without improving the domestic agricultural structure and international cooperation. Let's continue to monitor the situation closely.

Reference Article List

• Nikkei "Ban on Reselling Government Stockpiled Rice Announced by Minister Koizumi, Penalties for Violations"kumin.news

• FNN Prime Online "Announcement of Additional Release of 200,000 Tons of Stockpiled Rice, Ban on Reselling - Imprisonment or Fines for Violators"fnn.jp

• Kyodo News "Japan gov't to release additional 200,000 tons from rice stockpiles"english.kyodonews.net

• Jiji Press/Risk Taisaku.com "Ban on High-Priced Reselling of Stockpiled Rice = Adjustment for Cabinet Order Amendment"risktaisaku.com

• Nippon.com "Yahoo Japan Users Banned from Selling Govt-Stockpiled Rice"nippon.com

• Bloomberg "How a Rice Shortage Spurred a National Crisis in Japan"bloomberg.com

• The Guardian "Against the grain: can Japan learn to love imported rice?"theguardian.com