Core Insights - South Korea is entering a new rice harvest period, but market supply tightness has led to rising rice prices [1] - The government has decided to "lend" 30,000 tons of government reserve rice to local distributors to stabilize prices [1][2] Price Trends - As of August, the average retail price for a 20-kilogram bag of rice in South Korea is 58,000 KRW (approximately 300 RMB), which is over 10% higher than the annual average and nearing the 60,000 KRW (approximately 310 RMB) price threshold [1] Government Intervention - This is the first time the South Korean government has used a "lending" method to release reserve rice into the market, contrasting with previous auction methods [2] - The condition for local distributors is to return the rice using this year's new harvest [1]

Core Insights - Japan's rice prices have remained high over the past year, prompting the government to release reserve rice and implement measures to increase production starting this year [1][2] - While some farmers are benefiting from higher prices, there are concerns about the potential influx of foreign rice affecting domestic producers [1] - The government’s short-term measures may not address long-term stability in rice production, as highlighted by local business owners [1] Group 1: Government Actions - The Japanese government has ended a decades-long rice reduction policy and is now promoting rice production increases [2] - The government is releasing low-priced reserve rice to stabilize market prices, but this may only have a temporary effect [1] Group 2: Farmer Perspectives - Farmers like Hisaichi Hosaka welcome the direction of the new policy but express concerns over the costs associated with expanding rice cultivation and rising production costs due to increased prices of fertilizers and pesticides [2] - There is apprehension that if rice prices revert to around 400 yen per kilogram (approximately 20 RMB), it would be detrimental to producers [2]

Group 1 - The Japanese government plans to release a total of 300,000 tons of reserve rice, targeting large retailers with annual sales of over 10,000 tons [1] - The pre-tax price for 60 kg of brown rice is expected to be 10,700 yen (approximately 534 RMB) [1] - The average price of 5 kg of rice in Japanese supermarkets reached a new high of 4,285 yen during the week of May 12 to 18 [1] Group 2 - There are mixed evaluations regarding the actions of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshikazu Koizumi, with some expressing hope for stable low-price supply of reserve rice [2] - Concerns have been raised about the transparency and fairness of Koizumi's new strategy, with uncertainty about its effectiveness in lowering rice prices [2] - Some Japanese citizens are hopeful for a decrease in rice prices, while others are skeptical about the sustainability of low prices post-elections [2]

在素有"稻米之乡"美誉的茨城县，甚至出现了"盗米贼"。据警方统计，2025年1月1日至4月27日期间，茨城县累计发生14起大米失窃案，被盗大米总量约 4.5吨。 由于大米被盗后追回难度大，人们只能各出奇招防盗。有的农户不惜花高价购买GPS定位器，预先藏入米袋中，上演现实版的"米粒追凶"。 据CCTV国际时讯，日本总务省5月23日公布4月消费者物价指数。其中，大米类价格较去年同期上涨98.4%，连续7个月刷新历史最大涨幅。这也是自1971 年有可比数据以来的最大涨幅。 据央视财经，由于米价高涨，一些日本民众开始分食米饭。一位家里有7口人的日本民众向记者展示了家中分食米饭的视频，"以克为单位来精确称米"。 据环球时报，日本新上任的农林水产大臣小泉进次郎24日说，政府计划直接将储备米卖给零售商，而非像之前一样拍卖给中间商，希望以此平抑米价。 小泉进次郎当天在札幌市发表演讲时表示，政府将绕过那些阻碍政府控制价格的拍卖机制，与零售商"直接签合同"，同时调低米价，以一袋5公斤装大米 2000日元（约合101元人民币）的价格出售。 此外，数据显示，5月21日，韩国20公斤大米的零售均价是56147韩元（约合人民币294元） ...

Core Viewpoint - Japan's rice prices are soaring, prompting the government to implement a new plan to release reserve rice into the market to stabilize prices, which have reached historical highs [1][3]. Group 1: Government Actions - The Japanese government plans to release a total of 300,000 tons of reserve rice, targeting large retailers with annual sales of over 10,000 tons [3]. - The selling price for the reserve rice is set at 11,556 yen (approximately 581 RMB) for every 60 kilograms, with an expected retail price of 2,160 yen (approximately 109 RMB) for every 5 kilograms [3]. - The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will cover the transportation costs of the reserve rice to retailers, and retailers are required to complete sales by the end of August [3]. Group 2: Market Conditions - The average price of 5-kilogram bags of rice in Japanese supermarkets reached a new high of 4,285 yen (approximately 216 RMB) during the week of May 12 to 18 [7]. - Factors contributing to the rising rice prices include extreme heat leading to poor harvests and public panic buying due to warnings of potential earthquakes affecting rice production [7]. - Despite previous auctions of reserve rice since March, the upward trend in rice prices has not been effectively curbed [7].

Core Viewpoint - The Japanese government is implementing a new rice reserve release plan to stabilize rising rice prices, which have reached record highs, with the average price for a 5-kilogram bag at 4,285 yen, more than double the price from the same period last year [1][2]. Group 1: Price Statistics - As of May 18, the average price for a 5-kilogram bag of rice is 4,285 yen, an increase of 17 yen from the previous week [1]. - This price is more than double the 2,120 yen recorded during the same period last year, marking a new high since the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries began tracking this data [1]. Group 2: Government Response - The government plans to sell reserve rice directly to retailers at an average price of 10,700 yen for 60 kilograms, which is nearly half the previous auction price [1][2]. - The initial release will consist of 300,000 tons of reserve rice, with 200,000 tons from the 2022 harvest and 100,000 tons from the 2021 harvest [2]. - The government aims to lower the retail price for consumers to 2,000 yen for a 5-kilogram bag following the implementation of this plan [2]. Group 3: Political Context - The new plan comes after criticism of the previous government's slow response to rising rice prices, with three batches of reserve rice auctioned since March without effectively curbing price increases [2]. - The recent resignation of former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Takashi Eto, due to inappropriate comments about rice, has led to the appointment of Shinjiro Koizumi as the new minister [2].