Japan Rice Prices Fall for Third Straight Week to 3403 Yen, Lowest in 21 Months
- Average supermarket rice price fell to 3,403 yen per 5kg, down 55 yen from the prior week
- Three consecutive weekly declines mark the lowest level in about 21 months
- Cheaper staple food eases household budgets and feeds into CPI
In a Japan where everything else is getting pricier, falling rice prices count as rare good news. For the week through July 12, the average supermarket price of rice was 3,403 yen per five kilograms including tax, down 55 yen from the previous week — a third straight weekly decline and the lowest level in roughly 21 months. This unwinds part of the 'Reiwa rice crisis' that pushed prices above 4,000 yen amid 2024's shortage panic, before government reserve releases, the new harvest, and imported rice refilled shelves. For households, cheaper staples directly relieve food-budget pressure; for macro watchers, rice matters in Japan's CPI food basket, softening felt inflation even as Iran-driven energy risk pushes from the other side. Restaurants and tourism operators get real input-cost breathing room too. Watch the new harvest and procurement price talks next.