“米荒”持续，日本连锁便利店推出用2023年收获大米制作的“陈年饭团”，引发争议

Group 1 - Lawson Group announced the launch of "aged rice balls" made from rice harvested in 2023, priced lower than their regular rice balls [1][3] - The company has procured approximately two tons of aged rice and plans to offer several basic flavors at a price of around 120 yen (approximately 6 RMB) per serving [1] - The initiative has sparked controversy on social media, with users questioning the use of the term "aged rice" and expressing concerns about misleading marketing [3] Group 2 - Japan is experiencing a rice shortage, with the consumer price index for rice rising by 98.4% compared to the previous year, and the average price of a 5-kilogram bag reaching 4,268 yen (approximately 215 RMB), more than double the price from last year [3] - The influx of government reserve rice into the market has led to debates about rice quality, with concerns raised in the Japanese Diet regarding the safety and value of older stored rice [4]