No rice in Japan's supermarkets - What led to the shortage?
A week-long holiday combined with warnings of a "megaquake" and multiple typhoons have forced many in japan to turn to panic purchasing. Unprecedented shortages of rice, one of the nation's most popular basic foods, have resulted from the instability.
The government so issued a warning against panic purchasing on Tuesday.
"We could only procure half the usual amount of rice this summer and bags of rice get quickly sold out," the AFP cited a cashier at a famous grocery chain in tokyo called Fresco as saying.
The government so issued a warning against panic purchasing on Tuesday.
"We could only procure half the usual amount of rice this summer and bags of rice get quickly sold out," the AFP cited a cashier at a famous grocery chain in tokyo called Fresco as saying.
The employee also mentioned that the daily supply of rice frequently runs out around lunchtime.
Following the government's warning earlier this month of a potential "megaquake" and several typhoons, people began rationing food in their houses. The Obon festival is another reason why rice shortages or outages occurred in stores around Japan.
A shortfall of rice was also brought on by reduced harvests due to hot weather and water limitations, as well as higher demand from record-high numbers of international visitors.
Following the government's warning earlier this month of a potential "megaquake" and several typhoons, people began rationing food in their houses. The Obon festival is another reason why rice shortages or outages occurred in stores around Japan.
A shortfall of rice was also brought on by reduced harvests due to hot weather and water limitations, as well as higher demand from record-high numbers of international visitors.
"We ask you to purchase one (bag of rice) per day per family so that many customers can be able to buy," said a notice at a supermarket shop in Tokyo.
The news agency cited a tokyo store employee who stated that the store was unable to acquire any rice and that there was no chance of doing so in the near future.
On Tuesday, the Japanese government issued a warning to the public not to buy rice in a panic.
The news agency cited a tokyo store employee who stated that the store was unable to acquire any rice and that there was no chance of doing so in the near future.
On Tuesday, the Japanese government issued a warning to the public not to buy rice in a panic.
Tetsushi Sakamoto, the minister of agriculture, urged everyone to maintain composure and promised that the shortage problem will be rectified quickly.
June recorded the lowest rice stock in the nation since similar statistics started to be gathered in 1999.
Officials asserted that the stockpile is adequate. According to an agricultural ministry official who spoke to AFP, "a new harvesting season has started with 40% of the crop available by the end of September."
June recorded the lowest rice stock in the nation since similar statistics started to be gathered in 1999.
Officials asserted that the stockpile is adequate. According to an agricultural ministry official who spoke to AFP, "a new harvesting season has started with 40% of the crop available by the end of September."