中新网东京9月26日电 (记者朱晨曦)日本农林水产省26日发布的统计数据显示，日本市场上一袋5公斤装 大米均价为4246日元(约合202元人民币)，连续三周位于4000日元以上高位。 今年5月，日本5公斤装大米平均零售价一度飙升至4285日元，为该国有记录以来最高值。 2024年夏季以来，受极端高温致大米歉收等因素影响，日本大米价格持续上涨。去年8月，气象部门发 布日本东部太平洋南海海槽发生大地震可能性增高的警示，引发民众囤积大米，日本一度出现"大米 荒"。随着新米上市，"米荒"有所缓解，但米价依然居高不下。(完) 农林水产省对日本全国1000多家店铺米价进行调查，结果显示，9月15日至9月21日这一周，一袋5公斤 装大米均价为4246日元，较前一周下降29日元，仍位于4000日元以上高位。 （文章来源：中国新闻网） 据日媒报道，近期大米价格处于高位，一方面是由于价格相对高昂的新米开始上市，推高了大米整体价 格。另一方面则是由于平价的政府储备米供应减少。 ...

Group 1 - The average price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice in Japan reached 4,275 yen (approximately 205.5 RMB) during the week of September 8 to September 14, marking a continuous increase for three weeks and nearing the historical high of 4,285 yen (approximately 206 RMB) set in May this year [1] - The recent surge in rice prices is attributed to the introduction of relatively expensive new rice and a decrease in the supply of affordable government reserve rice [1] Group 2 - On June 11, the Japanese government initiated a new round of reserve rice distribution, with nearly 100 retailers applying to sell the rice, leading to long queues and a "rice scramble" among consumers [3] - A total of 120,000 tons of reserve rice was released, including 20,000 tons remaining from a previous auction and 100,000 tons newly introduced, all produced in 2021 [3] - The expected retail price for the 2021 reserve rice is approximately 1,800 yen (about 89 RMB) per 5 kilograms, while the 2020 reserve rice is expected to be around 1,700 yen (about 84 RMB), both significantly lower than market prices [3] Group 3 - Since the summer of 2024, rice prices in Japan have been rising due to extreme heat causing poor harvests, leading to a previous "rice shortage" triggered by warnings of increased earthquake risks in the region [4] - The availability of new rice has alleviated some of the previous shortages, but prices remain high [4]

Group 1 - The average price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice in Japan has reached 4,275 yen (approximately 205.5 RMB), marking a continuous increase for three weeks and nearing historical highs [1] - The price increased by 120 yen (approximately 5.8 RMB) from the previous week, remaining above 4,000 yen (approximately 192 RMB) for two consecutive weeks [1] - The surge in rice prices is attributed to the introduction of relatively expensive new rice and a decrease in the supply of government reserve rice [3] Group 2 - In May, the average retail price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice peaked at 4,285 yen (approximately 206 RMB), the highest recorded price in Japan [3] - Factors contributing to the price increase include extreme high temperatures leading to poor rice harvests and a previous warning about the potential for earthquakes, which caused panic buying and a temporary rice shortage [3] - Although the new rice has alleviated some of the supply issues, rice prices remain elevated [3]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the articles indicates that the price of rice in Japan is expected to rise significantly due to increased prepayments for new rice by agricultural cooperatives, driven by competition among buyers and reduced production caused by extreme summer heat [1][2] - Agricultural cooperatives in major rice-producing regions, such as Niigata Prefecture, have raised the prepayment for new rice by approximately 70% compared to last year, averaging 30,000 yen (about 1,456 RMB) per 60 kilograms [1] - In Toyama Prefecture, the prepayment has increased by 60%, averaging 26,000 yen (about 1,262 RMB) per 60 kilograms, while regions like Hokkaido and Akita have also seen increases of about 10,000 yen (approximately 485 RMB) [1] Group 2 - The rise in rice prices has been ongoing since the summer of 2024, attributed to extreme heat leading to poor rice harvests [2] - A previous warning about the increased likelihood of earthquakes in the eastern Pacific Ocean led to a panic buying situation, resulting in a temporary "rice shortage" last year, although the situation improved after the new rice was harvested [2]

Core Viewpoint - The Japanese government is investigating the sudden rise in rice prices, which have increased significantly due to factors such as extreme heat and previous natural disaster warnings, leading to consumer panic buying and long queues for government-subsidized rice [2][3]. Group 1: Price Increase and Investigation - Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced a thorough investigation into the reasons behind the sudden spike in rice prices [3]. - Since summer 2024, rice prices in Japan have been on the rise due to poor harvests caused by extreme heat [3]. - The consumer price index for rice showed an increase of 98.4% in April compared to the previous year, marking the highest increase since 1971 [3]. Group 2: Government Response and Consumer Behavior - The Japanese government has started selling reserve rice in limited quantities to stabilize prices, leading to long queues at supermarkets [4][5]. - In Hokkaido, a store sold out 1,000 bags of reserve rice quickly, with each 5-kilogram bag priced at 2,150 yen (approximately 107 RMB), about half the market price [5]. - The government has implemented a direct supply model for reserve rice sales, bypassing middlemen, and has mandated that retailers complete sales by the end of August [5].

Group 1 - Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio replaced Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takashi Eto due to inappropriate remarks regarding rice purchasing, amid concerns over rising rice prices affecting the upcoming summer elections [1] - The appointment of former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi as the new Agriculture Minister reflects a shift in strategy to address public concerns over rice price increases [1][2] - Koizumi emphasized his commitment to tackling the rice price issue and intends to focus on rice-related matters as the new minister [1] Group 2 - Rice prices in Japan have been rising since last autumn, prompting the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to release government rice reserves starting in March, although the response has been criticized as slow and ineffective [2] - Eto's controversial statement about never buying rice due to receiving it from supporters highlights a disconnect with public sentiment regarding the rising cost of rice [2]

Core Viewpoint - Rising rice prices in Japan have led to an unexpected trend where rice has become a popular gift for Mother's Day, highlighting a shift towards practicality in gift-giving [1] Group 1: Consumer Behavior - Consumers are increasingly choosing rice as a gift for Mother's Day due to its practicality compared to traditional gifts like flowers and cakes [1] - A store in Nishinomiya reported a doubling in sales of gift rice compared to the previous year, indicating a significant increase in consumer interest [1] Group 2: Market Trends - Rice has appeared on "Mother's Day recommended gifts" lists in various shopping venues, showing a notable increase in sales compared to previous years [1] - Staff at a shopping mall in Osaka noted that gifting rice has become a new trend, reflecting a broader consumer focus on the utility of gifts [1] Group 3: Price Dynamics - Since the summer of 2024, extreme heat has led to poor rice harvests, contributing to a continuous rise in rice prices in Japan [1] - The average price for a 5-kilogram bag of rice has reached 4,233 yen (approximately 211 RMB), marking a record high for 17 consecutive weeks [1] - The Japanese government has auctioned off three batches of reserve rice since March in an attempt to control rising prices, but the upward trend remains uncurbed [1]

Core Insights - Japan's rice prices have risen for the 17th consecutive week, reaching a record average of 4,233 yen (approximately 30 USD) per 5 kilograms, more than double the price from a year ago [1] - The government’s release of stockpiled rice has had limited effectiveness in stabilizing supply, indicating ongoing supply constraints [1] - Prime Minister Kishida instructed the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to develop measures to mitigate the negative impacts of soaring rice prices [1] Price Trends - As of the week ending April 27, the average price of rice sold in supermarkets increased by 13 yen per 5 kilograms, marking the highest increase since data collection began in March 2022 [1] - The recent price surge is attributed to tight rice supply, driven by last summer's high temperatures and increased demand from a surge in inbound tourism [1] Government Actions - To facilitate market circulation, the government has decided to release 312,000 tons of stockpiled rice into the market [1]

Group 1 - The average price of 5 kilograms of rice in Japanese supermarkets reached a record high of 4,220 yen during the week of April 14 to April 20, marking a continuous increase for 16 weeks [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant rise in rice prices in Japan, with Prime Minister Kishida expressing that he has "truly felt a 50% increase" in prices, highlighting the impact on household budgets and the ongoing challenges in stabilizing rice prices in the market [2][3]. Group 1: Price Increase and Impact - Rice prices in Japan have reportedly surged by 50%, which translates to a 1.5 times increase, affecting consumer perception and household expenses [2][3]. - The article notes that while there was a temporary shortage of rice in the summer of 2024, the anticipated stabilization of prices following the new rice harvest has not materialized, leading to continued high retail prices [2]. Group 2: Regional Price Variations - The article emphasizes the significant regional disparities in rice retail prices across different prefectures in Japan, as observed through the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' retail price statistics [3].