“There’s surplus rice in supermarkets in Tokyo, right? Give us some!” Just when you thought the rice shortage was being resolved. Some people in rural areas claim they haven’t seen stockpiled rice.

Last year’s “Reiwa Rice Panic” led to measures aimed at combating unusually high rice prices, including the release of stored rice. With Shinjiro Koizumi becoming the Minister of Agriculture, additional sales contracts and the release of very old rice pushed prices to around 2000 yen for 5 kilograms. Despite these efforts, the ruling coalition suffered a major defeat in the Senate elections, and inflation continues to strain household budgets.

In areas like Niigata, famous for rice, the situation remains difficult. A local supermarket manager indicated they can’t sell stored rice due to not meeting certain sales quotas set by the government. Even in rice-rich Niigata, shortages persist, leading supermarkets to limit purchases per family.

There is a divide between urban and rural availabilities, with better supply in Tokyo where demand for older stored rice has waned, while local stores still face shortages and high prices due to transportation costs.

Nationally recognized supermarkets attempt to sell rice cheaply but run out quickly. In regions like Kyushu, many have never seen stored rice on shelves. Meanwhile, big companies gradually distribute it based on regional readiness, focusing first on major cities.

Overall, while some improvement is noted in urban areas, rural regions still struggle with rice availability and high prices, highlighting supply chain issues that need addressing by larger organizations and government bodies.