Story perspectives

Japan Buys Back 210,000 Tonnes of Rice

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 10:27 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Japan's government is buying back 210,000 tonnes of rice to replenish reserves amid a market surplus.
Private rice inventories reached 2.43 million tonnes by mid-2026, pushing farmgate prices toward ¥3,300.
Farmer Hiroshi Asano expects a 2026 loss and urges a ¥20,000 price floor for 60 kg.
Heat-tolerant rice covered 18% of the 2025 crop, while duty-free U.S. imports rose 75% to 770,000 tonnes.

History

Historical Context

In 1965 Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries enacted the Rice Purchase Law, purchasing about 1.2 million tonnes to stabilize prices and ensure food security. The policy mirrored state-driven rice programs spurred by the International Rice Research Institute, founded in 1960, which introduced high-yield IR8 rice that transformed Asian markets. It set a precedent for later buybacks, such as the 210,000-tonne purchase announced in 2026.

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Story summary

Japan's government is buying back 210,000 tonnes of rice to replenish reserves amid a market surplus.
Private rice inventories reached 2.43 million tonnes by mid-2026, pushing farmgate prices toward ¥3,300.
Farmer Hiroshi Asano expects a 2026 loss and urges a ¥20,000 price floor for 60 kg.
Heat-tolerant rice covered 18% of the 2025 crop, while duty-free U.S. imports rose 75% to 770,000 tonnes.

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