一场日本人吃不上米的危机，与幕后大概率黑手

Group 1 - The price of rice in Japan has doubled within a year, with 5kg of rice nearing 4500 yen (approximately 225 RMB) [1] - The price surge is attributed to supply-demand imbalance, but the article questions the validity of this claim in a commodity-rich society like Japan [2][3] - The public is expressing anger and seeking accountability, with various theories emerging regarding the causes of the price increase [3][11] Group 2 - The timeline of events indicates that extreme weather conditions in 2023 and 2024 significantly impacted rice production, leading to a crisis [10][38] - The article highlights that the Japanese rice market is characterized by a lack of competition and high dependency on local production, which exacerbates price volatility [34][36] - The Japanese agricultural system is criticized for its rigidity, which results in a loss of market elasticity and competitiveness, making it vulnerable to external shocks [46] Group 3 - The article discusses the role of the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) in the rice supply chain, indicating that they hold significant market power and influence over pricing [23][24] - It is noted that despite rising prices, farmers are not benefiting from the increased costs, leading to protests and calls for government intervention [20][27] - The government and agricultural organizations are under scrutiny for their handling of the rice crisis, with accusations of mismanagement and lack of timely response [50][51]