Koshihikari Rice Prices Fall Below 3,000 Yen

May 12, 2026 | News On Japan

HOKKAIDO, May 12, 2026 (News On Japan) - Brand rice variety Yumepirika was being planted one after another in rice paddies in Higashikawa, Hokkaido, as rice planting work accelerates across Japan ahead of the autumn harvest, with attention now turning to how much this year’s new rice will cost.

At a supermarket in Saitama Prefecture on May 11th, popular rice varieties including Koshihikari were being sold for less than 3,000 yen excluding tax.

Tomonari Iida, manager of Fresh Market Higashihongo store, said: "It would have been almost unthinkable to sell at this price not long ago. Since the start of the year, prices have fallen by 100 yen, 200 yen, even 300 yen."

One shopper visiting the supermarket said: "(Q. How do you feel about cheaper branded rice?) It still tastes good even when cold, so lower prices really help."

Against this backdrop, a new outlook survey targeting rice industry participants was released on May 11th.

The price outlook index rises as it approaches 100, but the forecast index for the next three months stood at 28. The figure has remained below the key 50-point threshold for seven consecutive months, indicating that expectations for further price declines continue to dominate.

The latest supermarket rice prices have also fallen into the 3,700-yen range for the first time in around eight months, with the average price for 5 kilograms at 3,796 yen. Retailers are increasingly moving to reduce inventories before newly harvested rice reaches the market.

Questions are now growing over whether prices for this autumn’s new rice crop will continue to decline.

Naoya Matsudaira, assistant professor at Utsunomiya University’s Faculty of Agriculture and an expert on rice distribution, said: "Last year prices exceeded 4,000 yen, but I don’t think they will rise that high this time, even for premium brands. Inventory levels will continue to affect the market after the new harvest arrives. I expect prices to be around 3,500 yen when the new rice begins going on sale."

Meanwhile, rice producers voiced concerns over cultivation conditions.

Rice farmer Shogo Tada said: "It’s difficult, but Koshihikari is the king of rice. Most farmers still grow Koshihikari on 20% to 30% of their land."

Although Koshihikari remains highly popular, Tada said the extreme heat seen in 2025 exposed some of the variety’s weaknesses.

"When temperatures rise, there is a greater risk of water shortages and damage from stink bugs, which can lower quality," Tada said. "The grains become thinner and the quality grade can also fall."

Attention will remain focused on rice price trends heading toward the autumn harvest season.

Source: FNN

The Unseen Reality of Kumamoto Quake Survivors

Fifteen days after the Kumamoto earthquake, restoration of electricity and transport infrastructure is progressing, but thousands of people are believed to remain outside official shelters, while rising construction costs and interest rates are creating new challenges for rebuilding homes and restoring livelihoods.

Jellyfish-Like Red Glow Lights Up Kanagawa

A mysterious red light stretching vertically across the night sky over Kanagawa Prefecture has been identified as a rare "sprite," a brief luminous phenomenon that occurs high above thunderclouds at roughly the same time as powerful lightning strikes.

Awa Odori Dancers Fill Tokushima Streets

Street performances began across Tokushima on August 12 as the city's Awa Odori festival entered its second day, with leading dance groups showcasing graceful routines after months of practice.

Newly Formed Typhoon No. 17 Could Near Kanto by Weekend

A large new typhoon formed near the Ogasawara Islands on August 12 and could approach Honshu around the end of the Obon holiday period, while the remnants of Typhoon No. 15 continue to bring unstable weather and a risk of heavy rain across a wide area of Japan.

Japanese Woman Trapped in North Korea for 40 Years

Hiroko Saito was 19 years old when she left Japan for North Korea in June 1961 with her Korean husband and their one-year-old daughter, persuaded by assurances that they were heading to a "paradise on earth" and that she could return to Japan after three years. Instead, she would spend four decades in North Korea, enduring chronic hunger, the deaths of her husband and children and a desperate struggle to survive before finally escaping and returning home in 2001.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Food NEWS

Warming Climate Brings Sweet Potato Farming to Hokkaido

Climate change is reshaping Hokkaido's fishing and agricultural industries, contributing to declining salmon and pink salmon catches while allowing crops such as sweet potatoes, once considered unsuitable for large-scale production in Japan's far north, to take root.

Cat Cafes Actually Originated in Osaka

Japan's cat cafes, now numbering around 300 nationwide, trace their origins to Neko no Jikan in Osaka's Nakazaki-cho district, where founder Yoko Yoshida combined the quiet atmosphere of a manga cafe with the companionship of cats to create what is regarded as the country's first cat cafe in 2004.

A Day Eating Around Kyoto’s Nishiki Market

We explore the streets around Nishiki Market, stroll through Teramachi and Shinkyogoku, take a sweet break, and slow down beside the Kamo River before ending the day with a bowl of ramen that is anything but ordinary.

Budget Water Spinach Regrows From Stems

Water spinach, a heat-resistant leafy vegetable that can cost about half as much as spinach and be regrown at home from leftover stems, is attracting attention in Japan as households look for affordable ways to cope with rising summer vegetable prices.

Betting on Bananas in Okinawa

A banana grower in Okinawa is working to transform the fruit into a major local industry after recognizing the potential of a market that depends almost entirely on imports despite strong consumer demand.

Kyoto's 3,000-Yen Melons Hit Peak Season

Shipments of Kyotango Melons, a luxury fruit known for its juicy texture and refined, rich sweetness, have reached their seasonal peak in Kyotango, Kyoto Prefecture.

What Is the Difference Between Nama Wasabi and Hon Wasabi?

Wasabi, an essential condiment on Japanese dining tables, is seeing rising demand as its popularity grows among foreign consumers drawn to its distinctive flavor and ability to enhance food.

Giant Dog Cafe Offers Tuk-Tuk Rides with Favorite Canine

A cafe where visitors can interact with nine giant dogs weighing more than 50 kilograms each is set to open next week in Tondabayashi, Osaka Prefecture, offering close encounters with the animals as well as dining excursions accompanied by a favorite dog.

< 2 3 4 5 >