The average price per 5 kilograms of rice sold at some 1,000 supermarkets in Japan last week topped ¥4,000 for the first time since early June, the agriculture ministry has said.

The average price rose ¥264 from the previous week to ¥4,155 in the week through Sunday, up for the second straight week, the ministry said Friday.

This is the steepest increase since data began in March 2022, reflecting the start of sales of this year’s new harvest and a decrease in the availability of cheaper government-stockpiled rice.

On Thursday, agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters that prices have settled down “to a certain degree,” given that the average price was at ¥4,200 when he took office in May.

However, the average price released Friday suggests that the price-curbing effects of government-stockpiled rice are beginning to wane.

Blended rice, including government-stockpiled rice, accounted for 30% of all sales in the week, down from 58% marked between late June and mid-July.

Brand rice, such as newly harvested rice, comprised 70% of sales. The average price of such rice rose ¥72 to ¥4,344.

Published Date: September 13, 2025