KEY POINTS
- Tourism Expo Japan 2024 commenced on September 26.
- In August, rice prices hit 16,133 yen ($112.67) per 60kg, rising 3 per cent from the previous month and 5 per cent since the start of the year.
- Though Japan had an average harvest in 2023, its quality of rice was notably inferior.
Japan, known for its rich culinary traditions and reliance on rice as a staple food, is facing its worst rice shortage in over two decades. The issue has been exacerbated by a dramatic surge in international tourists post-pandemic, climate factors and longstanding agricultural challenges.
