How Japan’s rice shortage could impact upcoming elections
people lining up for hours to purchase subsidized rice is an unusual sight here in Japan but that’s what’s been happening due to skyhigh rice prices a 5 kilogram bag of rice in Japan has nearly doubled in price over the past year to roughly $30 US for context you can purchase the equivalent amount of rice in the states for around a half of that price and this is even accounting for foreign exchange rates so given all of this Japan is now considering all measures including potentially increasing rice imports but it’s a tricky matter because Japanese farmers remain heavily protected against foreign competition and they are an important voter base for the ruling LDP at a time when Japanese voters are set to hit the polls next month to vote in the upper house election so what are your thoughts on Japan’s rice shortage and what do you think can be done let me know in the comments
Rice prices have been on the rise in Japan.
A 5-kilogram bag of the grain has roughly doubled to around 4,200 yen, or $30, from a year ago. The same amount of white, long-grain rice sells for less than half that in the U.S.
While importing rice has been floated as a solution, Japanese farmers remain heavily protected from foreign competition and make up an important voter base for the ruling party. (Japan holds an upper house election next month.)
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