On April 28, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries released statistics showing that the average price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice in Japan is 4,220 yen (approximately RMB 215), marking a new high for 16 consecutive weeks. Police have reported a surge in "half-price rice" scams across the country, leading many people to lose money.
The Ministry surveyed over 1,000 stores nationwide, revealing that within the week ending on April 20, the average price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice was 4,220 yen, more than double the price from the same period last year. This is the highest level since the ministry began tracking this data.
According to Japanese media, the latest figures indicate that despite the government auctioning off three batches of reserve rice since March, the upward trend in rice prices has not been effectively curbed.
Amidst rising rice prices, some fraudsters have used "half-price rice" as bait to deceive consumers. Japanese police reported that residents in Saga Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture, and other areas have recently filed complaints about individuals falsely claiming to sell rice online at prices about half of the market rate. Victims, after transferring money, found that they did not receive any rice and realized they had been scammed.
The police have urged the public to be cautious and verify identities when purchasing rice online to prevent falling victim to fake rice merchants.
Since the summer of 2024, factors such as extreme heat leading to poor rice harvests have contributed to the ongoing rise in rice prices in Japan. In August of last year, meteorological authorities warned of a heightened risk of earthquakes in the eastern Pacific region, prompting people to stockpile rice and causing a temporary "rice shortage." While the arrival of new rice has alleviated some concerns, prices remain high.
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