Japan's Rice Glut Sends Farmer Payments Plummeting

Japan's rice market has veered sharply from shortage to glut, and the abrupt reversal is dealing a heavy blow to the country's farmers, according to a Bloomberg report by Ririko Tada published by The Japan Times on Sept. 29, 2026.

From Scarcity to Surplus

After a stretch in which rice was in short supply, Japan now faces the opposite problem: an oversupply that is pushing prices down and squeezing the growers who rely on the crop for their livelihoods.

Farmers See Payments Cut Roughly in Half

Hiroshi Asano, 59, who farms a relatively large 38 hectares of rice fields in Chiba Prefecture, said the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) — which act as middlemen for many farmers — are paying him less than ¥15,000 per 60 kilograms of unprocessed rice this year, down from ¥30,000 the previous year.

The figure means the price he receives for his harvest has been cut roughly in half in a single year, underscoring how quickly conditions have turned against producers.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Japan has swung from a rice shortage to a glut, dealing a blow to farmers.
• Chiba farmer Hiroshi Asano, 59, cultivates 38 hectares of rice fields and is being paid less than ¥15,000 per 60 kg of unprocessed rice this year through JA, down from ¥30,000 a year earlier.
• The agriculture ministry has announced it will buy back about 210,000 tons of rice to replenish its stockpiles.
• Experts say prices are likely to keep declining even if the government replaces its reserves.

Buyback May Not Halt the Slide

In response to the price slump, the ministry has announced that it will buy back about 210,000 tons of rice to replenish its stockpiles.

Yet, even if the government replaces its reserves, prices are likely to keep declining, said Kimio Inagaki, a fellow at the Mitsubishi Research Institute who researches farm policy.

Experts Urge Support for Struggling Growers

Kunio Nishikawa, a professor at Nihon University who researches agricultural policy, agrees that rice prices will probably keep falling next year, given the extent of the oversupply.

He added that the government should offer subsidies to help keep farmers in business, while warning that such a step could be politically difficult.

The report was published by The Japan Times on Sept. 29, 2026, based on Bloomberg reporting by Ririko Tada.