AssetID: 54652127
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Japan Taps Emergency Rice Reserves to Ease Soaring Prices
Caption: Japan Taps Emergency Rice Reserves to Ease Soaring Prices. Japan has released over 210,000 tons of rice from its strategic reserves to combat soaring prices of the nation’s staple food, CNN reports. Rice is central to Japanese cuisine and culture—used in sushi, sweets, religious offerings, and even McDonald’s burgers. The move follows a price surge, with the cost of a 60kg bag rising 55% in two years, reaching around $160 in 2023. The government’s strategic rice reserve, created in 1995, was last used during the 2011 tsunami and 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. Agriculture Minister Taku Eto assured citizens not to worry, saying the market injection would eventually lower prices. Eto blamed supply chain issues for the price hike, not a lack of rice, though he gave no details on the distribution problems. The first 150,000 tons were auctioned last month, and supermarkets like Trial Holdings have begun selling the rice. Some shoppers remain skeptical. “I heard it’s old rice,” said 69-year-old Emi Uchibori, who stocked up in March. Others say they’ll pay more for quality. “Rice is essential for my children’s lunch boxes,” said Yuko Takiguchi, 53. Japan joins other Asian nations like India and Thailand in using stockpiles to stabilize food prices and avoid political fallout. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Japan rice reserve,rice prices,food inflation,Taku Eto,Trial Holdings,rice auction,Japanese consumers,rice shortages,210,000 tons,supply chain issues,strategic food stockpile,CNN report,food security,inflation,staple foods,emergency reserves,Asia food markets,government intervention,natural disaster response,supermarket supply,consumer habits,cultural food preferences
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