Japan gov't shifts rice policy to demand-based output after crisis

TOKYO - The Japanese government on Friday decided to promote rice production aligned with demand and introduce new measures to prevent shortages, marking a shift from an earlier policy that boosted output to address elevated prices in recent years.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government approved a bill to revise the law on the stable supply and prices of staple foods at a Cabinet meeting and submitted it to the Diet the same day, aiming to prevent rice overproduction.