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the "rice shortage" has continued in many parts of japan recently. although some new rice has been put on the market, many supermarkets are still out of stock or have purchase restrictions. japanese people accused the ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries of being slow to act and not taking countermeasures, only claiming that the rice shortage "will be resolved sooner or later."

a "rice shortage" began to appear in some parts of japan in july, and now it has spread to more areas. according to japanese media reports on the 6th, rice supply is in short supply in tokyo, osaka prefecture, fukushima prefecture, hokkaido and other places, and some stores have sold out rice within minutes of putting it on the shelves.

this is a photo taken on july 26 of rice on a shelf at a chain supermarket in tokyo, japan (photo taken with a mobile phone). photo by xinhua news agency reporter zhong ya

faced with the continued shortage of rice and the high price of new rice, the japanese people expressed strong dissatisfaction with the ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, accusing the department of not taking countermeasures. according to japanese media reports, when asked on the 3rd when rice would be available, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries tetsuo sakamoto replied: "i heard from the supermarket clerk that it is expected to arrive on wednesday (4th). i think the shortage of rice will be resolved sooner or later." faced with the sharp rise in rice prices, he said "the price of new rice will be higher."

this statement has sparked criticism from the japanese public. people questioned that as the minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, tetsuo sakamoto actually used the words of a supermarket clerk as the official government response. many people wrote on social media: "there is no rice, what should the people eat?" "no rice was sold in the kansai region today." "what is the government doing?"

in addition, japanese people questioned the government's refusal to release reserve rice. osaka governor yoshimura hirofumi called on the japanese central government twice at the end of august and on the 2nd of this month to release reserve rice as soon as possible to ease supply tension and stabilize the sharp rise in rice prices, but was rejected by central government officials. according to the ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, releasing reserve rice may affect rice circulation.

source: xinhua news agency