China News Network, January 30th - According to a report by Kyodo News, the amount of imported foreign-produced rice subject to high tariffs in Japan's private sector in 2025 increased to 96,779 tons, which is about 96 times that of 2024 (1,008 tons), setting a historical high since 2000 when comparable data became available.
The report stated that due to the sharp rise in the price of domestically produced rice, the demand for imported rice, which still has a price advantage even with the tariff, has increased. Rice policy has become one of the key issues in the House of Representatives election, and how to prevent consumers from moving away from domestic rice is now under scrutiny.
According to the report, the production of domestic rice in Japan in 2025 far exceeds actual demand, but the average price across the country remains at a high level of more than 4,000 yen per 5 kilograms.
According to Japan's Ministry of Finance trade statistics, the import volume increased gradually from January 2025, reaching a peak of 26,349 tons in July.
The report said that the Japanese government imports approximately 770,000 tons of rice annually through the "minimum import quota" mechanism, with up to 100,000 tons of it being sold as staple food. The surge in imports this time falls outside this mechanism and requires a tariff of 341 yen per kilogram. (China News Network APP)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7601027545978470921/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.