The Japanese government on April 9 announced that it would release another 100,000 tons of stockpiled rice onto the market — the third such move to combat the recent surge in prices of the staple. Further releases are planned monthly through July. The sharp rise in prices has dealt a blow to our daily lives, but Satoshi Fukutomi, a Mainichi Shimbun reporter who has been monitoring agricultural policies, points out that the issue isn't merely about when rice prices will decrease. So what should consumers be focusing on?
by SkyInJapan