Japan is facing a rice problem, and everyday residents are feeling the effects.

Rice is a part of life in Japan, and like any major societal issue, a number of different factors have caused the recent sky-rocketing rice prices. First, intensely hot weather and even regional droughts brought on a so-called “summer without rice,” with the terrible harvest causing rice to disappear from grocery store shelves. Just when the industry was getting back on its feet and leveling out, however, mother nature struck again. A series of typhoons and earthquakes, including a warning that “the big one” might be coming to Tokyo via the Nankai Trough, encouraged a wave of stockpiling throughout the end of summer and beginning of autumn, as households throughout Japan looked to prepare themselves for an emergency. Despite Japan’s slowly waning demand for rice in recent years, trends have been reversed, and it looks like rice is back on the table. But all the responsibility can’t be placed on natural disasters – the increase in foreign tourists visiting Japan and enjoying the local cuisine has finally gotten to the point of affecting prices. With all these gears turning, prices have had nowhere to go but up.

In response to this jump in cost required to provide one of the most basic ingredients for any casual Japanese eatery, restaurants are passing the burden on to the customer, resorting to reducing portion sizes or raising prices. According to a report from the NHK, major Japanese restaurant management company Skylark Holdings has chosen to raise prices at many of its restaurants (including the popular casual chain Gasto) starting October 26th, increasing the price of rice and rice sets by approximately 30 to 55 yen each. Skylark Holdings explained, “We have made efforts to reduce costs by establishing direct contracts with rice suppliers, but in order to ensure a stable supply going forward, we have decided to revise prices.” Origin Toshu, which operates the bento chain Origin Bento, has decided to go in the other direction. While no price increase is in the works just yet, the company has announced a reduction in rice portions in many of their boxed lunches, along with a choice to shrink rice balls. The changes can already be seen in stores throughout Kanto and Kinki, the regions containing the busy cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has stated that they expect the price surge to stabilize once this season’s harvest begins to arrive on shelves and offer a fresh supply to commercial kitchens, but raised restaurant prices are unlikely to drop to their previous levels. For the many diners who frequent Japan’s casual eateries, there’s nothing to do but to keep a close eye on other restaurants to monitor rice prices.

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