In a Bid to End Rice Shortage, Japan Turned to South Korea. It Didn’t Work

It all started in the summer of 2024. An unprecedented rice shortage began in Japanese fields, leaving stores out of stock. Then, the tourist boom doubled the problem, turning it into a historic crisis reflected in the fact that people were paying 30% more for grains. Faced with the danger of running out of this basic commodity, Japan decided to release tons of its reserves.

No one could have anticipated what came next.

Foreign rice. In April, the nation made another unprecedented decision in 25 years by importing rice from South Korea—a measure that would have been unthinkable in a society historically averse to foreign grain. However, it had to relax its customs in the face of the sharp increase in the price of domestic grain. With prices doubling over the previous year (reaching 4,214 yuan for 11 pounds in April—about $585) and the government failing to contain the escalation, consumers began to look beyond their borders.

Not only that, but the Aeon chain also announced it will start selling Calrose rice from the U.S. next month, priced 10% lower than Japanese rice. This could mark a turning point in consumption habits.

Compared to domestic rice, the arrival of South Korean rice—sold online and in supermarkets—marked a cultural and economic shift. Although still in small volumes (barely two tons with another 20 on the way), the nationalist preference for local rice, which had previously doomed attempts such as the Thai rice imports in 1993, has given way to the urgency of more affordable prices.

According to The Guardian, some diners, such as Miki Nihei, noticed no difference when eating Californian rice. This revealed a shift in public perception: The quality of foreign grain was no longer a sufficient reason to resist when it came at the expense of the pocketbook.

Rice has become a political issue. Now, just weeks before a crucial Upper House election, the government of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is on the verge of political collapse amid growing unease over the soaring price of rice, a central staple of Japanese cuisine. With inflation affecting the country’s most symbolic product, citizens have expressed their frustration in polls such as the Kyodo agency’s, which put approval ratings for Ishiba’s Cabinet at a low of 27.4%, marking a drop of more than five points in just one month.

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Pressure is mounting from the opposition and within his own Liberal Democratic Party, which was already weakened after losing its majority in the Lower House last autumn. The debate on the 10% consumption tax—which the government refuses to reduce despite popular demands—is shaping up to be the decisive issue in the July election, with almost three-quarters of voters calling for a total or partial cut, particularly on food.

A late remedy. In March, the government decided to release rice from strategic reserves— a measure normally reserved for natural disasters—in an attempt to contain the crisis. This failed to curb the price increase. Rice in supermarkets cost almost double what it had a year earlier. Although prices fell slightly after the initial release of 300,000 tons, the results were disappointing.

To reinforce its strategy, the government announced the release of an additional 300,000 tons by July, with the novel approach of bypassing wholesalers to reach points of sale more quickly for some consignments. However, according to The Guardian, more than 87% of those surveyed believe these actions are insufficient and don’t trust that the trade negotiations with the U.S.—which focus on issues including rice imports—will be resolved in Japan’s favor.

This has led to a surge in the search for foreign rice in South Korea.

It’s a political fire. The issue has become more volatile in recent days. This occurred when Agriculture Minister Taku Eto sparked a political and social firestorm by publicly stating that he had “never had to buy rice” due to gifts he receives from supporters, generating a wave of indignation on social media plaforms. Faced with record prices for the Japanese staple, thousands of citizens demanded his immediate resignation.

Under pressure, Eto apologized to reporters the next day, claiming that he had “exaggerated to please the public” and that his wife had reprimanded him over the phone, reminding him that she does buy rice when it runs out at home. However, he avoided answering whether he would resign, leaving the tension ahead of the key Upper House elections in July unresolved.

A market that can’t keep up. In short, the search for rice outside the country isn’t only a commercial shift in response to the scarcity of the national product, but also a reaction to suspicions of hoarding by distributors, logistical bottlenecks, and demand triggered by booming tourism.

Against this backdrop, Ishiba’s reputation as an effective manager is deteriorating, and his refusal to consider raising the excise tax is seen as out of touch with the public’s needs. The rice crisis is forcing logistical and commercial adjustments and raising questions about the viability of Japan’s food self-sufficiency. For decades, the country has shielded its agriculture with subsidies, tariffs, and a discourse of national identity linked to domestic rice consumption.

Suddenly, rice isn’t just food but a measure of discontent.

Image | Kouji Tsuru (Unsplash)

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