World News for Students of English

09-06-2025 07:00

Many Japanese people have been lining up at stores to purchase rice at a reduced price, which the government released.

Due to extreme weather and other reasons, rice prices in Japan have doubled since last year. As a response, the government decided to release emergency rice stockpiles directly to retailers for half the usual price. This policy change is aimed at helping consumers and easing pressure before upcoming elections. Shoppers are allowed to buy only one bag per household, but long queues have still formed, showing how serious the situation has become.

Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said that the government is ready to release even more stockpiled rice if necessary. He also suggested buying back rice from wholesalers to increase supply and lower prices further. He warned that if local prices stay too high, stores might fill their shelves with more imported rice instead. Imports of foreign rice have already increased sharply despite high tariffs. More rice is expected to be produced in Japan this year.

Difficult words: line up (to stand in a row), stockpile (a large stored supply of something), retailer (a store that sells products to customers).

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