每公斤38.8元！日本米价再创新高

Group 1 - The average price of rice in Japanese supermarkets reached a historical high of 4,416 yen for 5 kilograms, marking an increase of 93 yen from the previous week, and this is the first price rise in two weeks [1] - The price of rice has remained above 4,000 yen for 18 consecutive weeks, with the current price surpassing the previous high of 4,337 yen recorded in December 2025 [1] - There is a growing belief among rice traders that prices may decline in the future, yet actual retail prices remain high, indicating a contradiction in market expectations [1] Group 2 - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported that the total rice production for 2025 is expected to be approximately 7.18 million tons, an increase of about 660,000 tons from the previous year [2] - The rise in rice prices is attributed to significantly increased purchasing prices from farmers, and it is difficult for prices to drop around the New Year [2] - The "Reiwa rice turmoil" has not yet subsided, necessitating policy reforms to stabilize rice supply and establish acceptable pricing for both consumers and producers [2] Group 3 - Japan's rice policy is at a critical crossroads regarding production changes and high prices, with a previous commitment to increase production being reversed by the current administration [3] - The current government stance is to align production with demand, with the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries stating the need to suppress rice production to prevent price crashes, which has sparked controversy [3]