More Japanese embracing foreign rice, even before it became a tariff topic

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TOKYO: When heavy rice prices were sent to Japan last year, Tokyo’s restaurant owner, Arta Hirano, did this, once seemed to be unimaginable: he turned an American kind.

California’s caller rice prices have doubled since her first purchase last summer, but it is still much cheaper than domestic grains.

“Unless domestic prices come down to collar prices, I do not intend to go back,” said Herrano.

Its consent to embrace foreign rice can present an earthquake change in the mentality for Japanese businesses and consumers – which can ease some restrictions to Tokyo Levy if rice becomes a thorny topic of tariff talks with US President Donald Trump.

Since the current record began in 2006, wholesale prices of domestic rice have increased by about 70 % over the past one year. There will not be a lot of problems that will not change this year. Inflation also increases the cost of life, business is now betting that a nation of people who are known for their derogatory locks and pride in their basic grains are open to change.

Last week, Dev Dev Avon of the supermarket began selling 80-20 US Japanese compounds, which is 10 % cheaper than domestic rice after a test sales run. Fast Food China Mitsuya and Restaurant Operator Kolloid started pure US rice service this year. In the Supermarket China Sea, Taiwan’s rice has been flying from the shelf since last year.

This is a sharp contrast compared to 1993, when Thai rice, which was imported to the Japanese government during severe shortage, was largely removed from it, leaving the piles of bags that did not sell the supermarket.

On the one hand, in most parts of the last six decades, almost all of Japan’s all-so-called staple rice-eating, which is used in comparison to rice or used for ingredients in other products-increased home. Imports are not needed, while high taxes, which are kept to ensure Japanese self -sufficiency for its most basic food, have saved local farmers from competition.

In Japan, tariff -free “minimum access” limits the import of 100,000 metric tons a year, or nearly 1.0 % of total consumption of “minimum access”. Last year, the amount was about 60 % of the US, which was trails by Australia, Thailand and Taiwan. Anything above it is imposed on 341 yen per kilogram.

When Trump announced sweeping rates in most parts of the world this month, he cursed Japan on the fact that he said rice had a 700 % tariff, which is a reference to the imposed. Japanese policy makers demanded their remarks on the sensitive topic “tragic”. They also dispute over 700 % data, saying it is based on old rice prices.

However, it is unclear how much – if not at all – the bilateral tariff talks will be discussed this week on rice. Some analysts believe that Trump’s Republican administration may not be focused on rice as exports to Japan come from a democratic state -of -the -art California. Nor is it clear how much Japan may be willing to benefit from opening its rice market.

In a sign that there may be some change, a panel that advised the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday suggested increasing the import of Staple Rice, saying that lifting 100,000 tonnes of tariff -free cap can help stabilize the supply.

He said that the Liberal Democratic Party of Prime Minister Shaigro Esba is unlikely to offend the farmers, traditionally a strong support base before the House of Health in July.

“It is not possible to give great privileges on rice before the elections,” said Junichi Sogwara, a senior fellow of the Al -Laws Consulting Group based in Tokyo.

Incoming more imports

The clear thing is that supply remains a problem.

In the fiscal year ended in March, Staple Rice’s tariff -free imports target Japan’s 100,000 tonnes of cap for the first time in seven years.

The amount of tariff imports, while still small, is also jumping in the first 11 months of Financial 2024, decreasing only 1,500 tonnes.

And this year, Rice Importer Kanimasu is purchasing 10,000 tonnes, in the first large -scale purchase of US major rice.

“We are receiving a lot of inquiries from the restaurant industry, facility stores, supermarkets and rice wholesalers,” said a spokesman for Kanimatiso.

From Saturday to April 6, Japanese supermarket rice prices are an average of 4,214 yen (.6 29.65) per 5kg, which has marked their 14th straight week and double the same period earlier this year. This is despite an unusual release of rice from the government’s emergency reservoirs, which began last month and continues every month during July.

As far as imported rice quality and taste is concerned, a user in Herran’s restaurant, Mickey Nehi, Shokodo Arta, said he had no complaints and was surprised to know that it was not Japanese.

“I didn’t know anything,” he said. “I have no cow about eating imported rice. Prices have gone up, so I always look for cheap options.”