Group 1 - Japan initially restricted rice imports to protect domestic farmers, but rice prices have reached record highs in the past year, prompting Japan to seek more affordable rice from Southeast Asia [1] - The New Dragon Group in Vietnam plans to export over 20,000 tons of rice to Japan this year, which is more than four times last year's total, equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 400,000 people [1] - Vietnamese rice is being sold at a lower price compared to Japanese rice, with a 5-kilogram bag priced at about 3,200 yen (approximately $22.4), which is 20% lower than the average retail price of Japanese rice [1] Group 2 - Southeast Asian countries benefit from lower production costs and multiple harvest seasons, making their rice cheaper than Japanese rice, with labor costs accounting for only a quarter of production costs [2] - In the 2024-2025 market year, Vietnam and Thailand are projected to be the second and third largest rice exporters globally, following India, with a growing interest in exporting to Japan due to rising prices [2] - Japan is also importing rice from the United States, with major retailer Aeon starting to sell a mix of Japanese and American rice at a price of approximately 2,894 yen (about $20) for 4 kilograms [2] Group 3 - Japan imposes a tariff of 341 yen per kilogram on imported rice, but even with this additional cost, Southeast Asian rice remains more affordable than domestic Japanese rice, which exceeds 4,000 yen for a 5-kilogram package [3]