过去决定领主仕途天花板，现在影响官员民意支持度，大米如何左右日本政坛？

Core Insights - The rising rice prices in Japan are closely linked to the government's political fate, with a 98% increase in rice prices over the past year contributing to overall inflation and potential voter backlash in upcoming elections [1][2]. Group 1: Rice Price Dynamics - The Japanese government is implementing classic retail strategies to address soaring rice prices, including repackaging aged rice and releasing reserve stocks into the market [1][3]. - The price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice has exceeded 4,000 yen (approximately 198 RMB), highlighting the significant cost burden on consumers [2]. - Despite previous attempts to stabilize prices through reserve rice releases, the direct sale of reserve rice to retailers has proven effective, reducing the price of "aged rice" to under 2,000 yen (approximately 99 RMB) [3]. Group 2: Cultural and Historical Significance of Rice - Rice holds deep cultural and historical significance in Japan, with its cultivation dating back over 3,000 years and being integral to Japanese nutrition and political history [3][4]. - The historical context includes past rice riots that have led to significant political changes, emphasizing the importance of rice in Japanese society [3]. Group 3: Government Policies and Agricultural Challenges - The Japanese government has historically intervened in the rice market to maintain self-sufficiency and stabilize prices, but these policies have led to long-term overproduction and inefficiencies [4][5]. - The decline in rice consumption due to changing dietary habits and a decreasing farmer population has resulted in a supply-demand imbalance, exacerbated by contradictory government policies [5][6]. - The current agricultural landscape includes approximately 40% of rice fields being fallow, indicating potential for increased efficiency through the consolidation of small farms, though this faces resistance from powerful agricultural cooperatives [5][6].