The rice prices in Japan had risen for over 10 weeks as of Monday, nearly doubling that of the same period last year, forcing many citizens to eat less rice or even seek alternatives.
The average retail price of rice in Japan rose again in the week leading up to May 11, reaching 4,268 yen (about 29.5 U.S. dollars) per 5 kilograms, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said on Monday.
This marks an increase of 54 yen from the previous week, reversing a brief decline after 18 consecutive weeks of price hikes.
Compared to the same period last year, rice prices remain nearly twice as high, the data showed.
"For ordinary people, it's unbearable. The price has already doubled," said a Japanese resident.
"The rice price hike is really troublesome. Rice is something we eat every day. People can't do without rice. So food price hikes are the the biggest headache. I haven't been able to eat rice every day over the past month, just twice or three times a week. Maybe around three times a week. I used to eat rice more often, but now it's definitely less," said a resident while expressing frustration over the rising costs.
"Prices are soaring now, so are the rice prices. So we try to buy where it sells cheaper. We don't buy rice that frequently, but if the rice price exceeds 4,000 yen (about 27.7 U.S. dollars) per 5 kilo, it's really expensive. I hope rice prices can return to the way they were before, which is around 2,000 to 3,000 yen (about 13.8 to 20.8 U.S. dollars) per 5 kilo," said another resident.
As part of efforts to ease the price increase, the government has started to release its reserve rice to the market since March.
While the government plans to release 100,000 tons per month between May and July, the outlook remains uncertain on whether this will lead to a drop in retail prices, Nikkei reported.
Price surge leads to reduced rice consumption in Japan
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
