Japan's New Rice Prices Plunge 42%

Oct 20, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Japan's new rice harvest is reaching stores at significantly lower prices, with initial trading prices for the 2026 crop falling 42% from a year earlier and some supermarkets selling freshly harvested rice for around 2,000 yen per 5 kilograms, creating an unusual situation in which new rice is cheaper than older stocks.

The first relative transaction prices for the 2026 harvest, measured per 60 kilograms of brown rice, were 42% lower than the same month last year, according to newly released figures.

The sharp decline is believed to reflect large inventories of rice harvested in 2025 still held by private-sector distributors, putting downward pressure on prices for the new crop.

The surplus has also created an unusual reversal in the retail market, with freshly harvested rice being sold for less than rice from the previous year's harvest. New rice normally commands a premium because of its freshness and seasonal appeal.

Shunsuke Orikasa, a senior researcher at the Distribution Economics Institute of Japan, said the country's rice harvest in 2026 is expected to be around average levels, suggesting that prices for new rice could remain between 2,000 and 2,500 yen per 5 kilograms.

The outlook raises expectations that rice will become more affordable for households following a period of elevated prices.

A survey of supermarkets in and around the Kanto region found that prices for 5-kilogram bags of freshly harvested rice were generally around 2,000 yen as of October 20, indicating that the decline in wholesale trading prices is already being reflected in retail stores.

With the new rice season underway, attention is also turning to ways of enjoying the fresh harvest, including cooking and storage techniques that help preserve its flavor and texture, along with side dishes and accompaniments that complement freshly cooked rice.

Source: TBS

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