Nineteen Firms Apply for 90,000 Tons of Reserve Rice Under Direct Contracts

May 27, 2025 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi announced that 19 companies have applied to purchase a total of 90,824 tons of government reserve rice under a discretionary contract framework. He added that distribution could begin as early as May 29th, with sales expected to start in stores during the first week of June.

Speaking at a press conference, Koizumi said, "The transfer of reserve rice may begin on the 29th. We are seeing a clear path for it to appear on store shelves in the first week of June."

As of 9 a.m. this morning, 19 companies had submitted applications for the rice, and some contracts may be finalized as soon as today. Among the applicants are Rakuten Group, the operator of Don Quijote, and supermarket chain OK.

In a notable development, FamilyMart has become the first major convenience store chain to decide to participate. The retailer plans to sell the rice in small one-kilogram packages priced at 400 yen. Processing and packaging will be handled by a group company under its parent firm, Itochu Corporation, with the goal of launching sales in early June.

Source: TBS

Shikoku Shinkansen Plan Revived After 53 Years

Plans to bring Shinkansen service to Shikoku have taken a significant step forward for the first time in 53 years, with the transport ministry beginning preliminary studies that could eventually cut travel times from Osaka to major cities including Tokushima, Takamatsu and Matsuyama to around 90 minutes.

Expo Construction Chief Accused of Inflating Invoices

A Takenaka Corp. construction manager who oversaw work on the Grand Ring and other facilities at the Osaka-Kansai Expo was arrested on August 19 on suspicion of causing more than 13 million yen in losses to the major contractor through inflated construction bills, with police investigating allegations that money from the scheme was used for renovations to his home and a cafe operated by relatives.

Typhoon No. 18 Moves North-West Toward Japan

Typhoon No. 18 (Soudelor) formed near the Truk Islands on August 19 and is forecast to strengthen as it gradually turns northwest, potentially approaching the Ogasawara Islands before moving toward Okinawa or the Pacific coast of western Japan.

Moss-Covered Healing Forest Draws Visitors

After 10 p.m., the clouds that had covered the sky above Shirakoma Pond gradually began to clear, revealing countless stars and the Milky Way rising vividly over the mountain lake in Nagano Prefecture's Northern Yatsugatake range.

Fire Breaks Out at Sairinji Temple in Saga

A fire broke out at Sairinji temple in Saga city on the morning of August 18, engulfing the building in flames and prompting the dispatch of 10 fire engines and two ambulances, with no injuries reported so far.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Whistleblowers Face Multimillion-Yen Lawsuits

Whistleblowers who expose suspected wrongdoing at companies and other organizations in Japan are increasingly finding themselves targeted by multimillion-yen damages claims, raising questions over whether the country's legal system adequately protects people who report misconduct.

Catalog House Pulls Out of Rakuten Over Military Drone Partnership

Catalog House, the operator of shopping catalog magazine Tsuhan Seikatsu, has announced it will stop selling through Rakuten Market in protest over Rakuten Group's partnership with a German military drone company and its plans to support the introduction of the drones to Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force.

Zento Shin Failure Shakes Cashless Payment Industry

The bankruptcy of payment processing company Zento Shin has raised concerns over the impact on restaurants and other small and midsize businesses, while highlighting regulatory gaps in Japan's rapidly expanding cashless payment industry.

Nikkei Drops 3.2% as AI Selloff and Bond Yields Hit Tokyo

Tokyo stocks fell sharply on August 19, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 65,326.42, down 3.2%, its lowest finish since August 4, as renewed selling in artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares combined with rising bond yields, higher oil prices and geopolitical concerns to trigger a broad risk-off move.

Selling 'Dead Weight Real Estate" for 1 Yen!?

Real estate company Rewrite has built a business around properties that owners struggle to give away, sometimes listing them for just 1 yen in a strategy that produces virtually no immediate profit but can generate lucrative deals years later through referrals and repeat customers.

Don Quijote's Profit Tops 100 Billion Yen for First Time

Pan Pacific International Holdings, the operator of Don Quijote discount stores and other retail businesses, posted net profit of 110.1 billion yen for the year through June 2026, up 21.6% from a year earlier and exceeding 100 billion yen for the first time.

Niigata New Rice Prices Fall 40%

JA Zen-Noh Niigata decided on August 18 to set its advance payment for standard Koshihikari rice from the 2026 crop at 18,500 yen per 60 kilograms of brown rice, about 40% lower than a year earlier as inventories continue to build.

Pacific Bluefin Tuna Quota to Rise 25%

An international meeting on Pacific bluefin tuna resource management reached agreement on August 18 to raise the catch quota for large fish in the western and central Pacific by 25% while reducing the quota for smaller fish by 6%, a shift that could eventually lower prices for the prized tuna used in high-end sushi and sashimi.

< 2 3 4 5 >