Japan's rice consumption hits record low as foreign tourists eat more

Japan recorded a historic low in domestic rice consumption for the year ending July 2025, with only 6.83 million tonnes of brown rice used, according to preliminary figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). The decline follows severe shortages in the summer of 2024, price spikes and a surge in imports, leaving private‑sector inventories at a record 2.43 million tonnes.

New data released by MAFF show that overseas visitors now eat about 570 grams of cooked rice per day – roughly four bowls – which is about 70 % more than the average Japanese resident. Visitors from Vietnam, the United States and China top the list. The ministry estimates that foreign tourists consumed roughly 82,000 tonnes of polished rice between July 2025 and June 2026, prompting an upward revision of prior consumption forecasts. The combined effect of high tourist demand and domestic shortages has driven the government to consider early buy‑backs of surplus rice and to reassess future harvest expectations.

The ministry expects the 2026 harvest to be 7.32 million tonnes, while private inventories could rise to 2.81 million tonnes by mid‑2027, underscoring ongoing market volatility.