Japanese shoppers scramble for cheap, government-issued rice

BreakdownGenerated by LeadStory AI

• Japanese shoppers formed long lines at stores to buy discounted government-issued rice.
• The government released emergency rice stockpiles to retailers after prices doubled due to poor harvests. 18s
• Government rice is being sold at about half the regular store price. 57s
• Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the government may release its entire stockpile if needed to stabilize prices. 1m 18s
• Rice imports have increased slightly but remain low, as Japan maintains high tariffs to protect local farmers. 1m 34s