Japan to release 210,000 tons from rice reserves amid surging prices

The government will release up to 210,000 tons of its stockpiled rice, farm minister Taku Eto said Friday, in a bid to ensure smooth distribution of the Japanese staple amid soaring prices due in part to higher demand.Calling the recent hike in rice prices unusual, Eto said at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting that he hopes the first-ever release aimed at stabilizing supply will "bring the market back to normal."The reserved rice will be handed over to wholesalers in mid-March after bidding and is expected to hit store shelves between late March and early April. In the first stage,…READ FULL ARTICLE