Japan Rice Shortage: Updated September 4, 2024

 

Concerns over rice shortage growing in Japan amid higher demand

Article Source:  https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240826/p2g/00m/0bu/001000c

Ideas:

Consumers, globally, are reactive and or sometimes don't use common sense, as while understanding the fear of the possible mega quake, some consumers can go overboard, as this was quite common during the past pandemic where some people stock-piled masks and other things.

Talking to sources in Japan, there is a real rice shortage, that maybe could been prevented if people just used common sense and didn't panic.

Unfortunately, there is always the possibility of an earthquake in Japan, and for the most part, people go about their lives in Japan, but again with the understanding that Japan is an earthquake region.

Rice is a staple in Japan, but also rice consumption has been declining for years, as Japan and other Asian countries adapt to a more western style of eating.

Calling on consumers to remain calm is a good idea, but some people just don't listen and let their emotions control them.

This is situation is something that potentially is always possible, and if the Japanese government, as some have said, have resource of rice to use in emergencies, that might be a good time to use some of it now.

But the problem is people will then horde the emergency rise as their emotions will get the best of them and they will rush to the supermarkets and the hording will start again.

Supermarkets of course need to limit their supply to one or two bags only per customer, but customers will leave the store and come back again, the next day or the same day and do it again, so supermarkets need to find a way to prevent the cheaters from buying too much rice.

Limiting purchase to one per family is good, but they need to make sure some don't cheat and try to buy more the same day or the next day, so maybe one or two items per week only, if possible.

The problem is consumers don't want to be patient as they are often panic buying or emotion buying and not being patient like during the pandemic.

Restaurants are in difficult situation as maybe they can't make the normal rice offerings and or they have to significantly increase prices to cover their costs.

Again, this situation should have been seen as a possibility waiting to happen and the Japanese government should have had in place emergency measures to prevent such emergencies.

Its not likely that foreign tourists can be blamed for the rice shortage as there are 125 million Japanese and maybe 3 million foreigners to visit Japan each month.

Again, telling people not to panic is easier said than done as again consumers but with their emotions and don't see the big picture of everything that is happening.

Again, the Japanese government should use some of their emergency rice supply and fill up the supermarkets with some rice but not all of the rice. 

Just enough to keep the stores in some supply, and then the stores should limit the purchases to one or two per family.

Have a nice day!