Core Viewpoint - The appointment of the new Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Shinjiro Koizumi, comes at a critical time as Japan faces soaring rice prices, with the government aiming to stabilize prices and ensure food security [3][4][6]. Group 1: Rice Price Trends - Japan's consumer price index (CPI) for April, excluding fresh food, rose by 3.5% year-on-year, with rice prices increasing by 98.4%, marking the highest rise since 1971 [4][6]. - The average price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice reached 4,268 yen (approximately 212 RMB), double the price from the previous year, setting a record high [6][7]. - Prime Minister Kishida has set a target to reduce the price of 5 kilograms of rice to between 3,000 and 4,000 yen (approximately 150 to 200 RMB) [7]. Group 2: Government Response and Policies - Koizumi plans to replace the current rice reserve auction system with a contract-based sales approach to stabilize prices, as previous auctions have led to higher prices [8]. - The government has already auctioned 310,000 tons of reserve rice to stabilize supply, but the effectiveness of this measure is under scrutiny [8]. - Koizumi's experience in agricultural policy and previous roles in the government may aid in addressing the current challenges in the rice market [8]. Group 3: Future Challenges and Market Dynamics - The Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) has significantly increased the advance payment for this year's autumn rice harvest, indicating potential higher retail prices for consumers [9]. - In Niigata Prefecture, the advance payment for Koshihikari rice is set to rise by 35%, reaching 23,000 yen (approximately 1,156 RMB) for 60 kilograms, while Akita Prefecture anticipates a 42% increase for Akita Komachi rice [9]. - Koizumi faces the challenge of establishing a transparent price monitoring mechanism to regain public trust, especially after the previous minister's controversial remarks led to public dissatisfaction [10].