Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries sold 150,000 tons of government-reserved rice on March 10 to boost market supply and control rising prices. This marked the first time since 1995 that reserved rice had been sold to keep the rice market steady, as such reserves were previously only released during natural disasters. Despite the government’s efforts, rice prices remain high, with supermarket prices increasing by 90 percent compared to 2024 levels, according to the ministry. A poor harvest in the summer of 2024, caused by high temperatures, has been the main driver of rising rice prices in Japan.