Japan's private rice imports hit record high amid inflation

Japan's private rice imports have already reached a record-high 468 tons in the current fiscal year through March, driven by robust demand from restaurants amid soaring prices for the domestic crop, according to government data.The import volume from April to December last year, the highest since the farm ministry began collecting data in fiscal 2019, was equivalent to about 6.5 million bowls of steamed rice and higher than the 350 to 450 tons annually imported by firms in recent years.The record figure came despite the imposition by the government of a tariff of 341 yen ($2) per kilogram o…READ FULL ARTICLE