Hokkaido rice harvest begins with significant price drops

New rice harvests have begun in Ashibetsu, Hokkaido, with retail prices seeing a significant decline compared to the previous year. For example, the brand rice ‘Emimaru’ is being sold for 3,300 yen per 5kg, a drop of over 20 percent from the 4,200 yen price seen during the same period in 2025.

This price drop is largely driven by a decrease in the ‘estimated price’ (gaisankin)—the advance payment made by agricultural cooperatives to farmers—which has fallen by approximately 40 percent compared to 2025. While lower prices benefit consumers, they present a severe financial challenge for producers.

Farmers are facing a squeeze between falling revenues and rising operational costs. Expenses for fertilizer and agricultural machinery have increased by roughly 20 percent compared to last year. Some farmers, who expanded their cultivation areas in response to previous rice shortages, now face potential deficits and difficulty managing equipment investments and debt.