economy Japan’s domestic rice prices surge, causing private imports to skyrocket 95-fold. Why “foreign rice” is chosen despite high tariffs and future outlook
Private rice imports in 2025 surged to approximately 97,000 tons—a 95-fold increase from the previous year. What lies behind this abnormal situation where foreign rice is deemed “more cost-effective” even with high tariffs of ¥341 per kilogram? Based on the latest statistics from the Ministry of Finance, we provide expert analysis on the impact of soaring domestic rice prices, trends in the restaurant industry, and the outlook for the rice market.