Retail rice prices in Japan are still above ¥4,000 per 5 kilograms on average, almost double the level before supply shortages hit consumers, even after the government's releases of stockpiled rice to keep prices low. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/16/japan/rice-prices-high-stockpile-release/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #rice #agriculture #maff