Japan is facing a rapid food price inflation for rice in 2025, following a rice shortage in summer 2024. In May 2025, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for rice peaked at ***** index points, a significant increase compared to the base year 2020. As a measure to stabilize prices in the consumer market, the Japanese government started to release stockpiled rice in April 2025.

Noodle-based staple foods were the most popular alternatives to rice during shortages in Japan, according to a survey conducted in September 2024. Almost ** percent of respondents named udon noodles their preferred rice-substitute for a meal, with pasta and macaroni following in second place. While rice is the staple food of choice for meals in Japan, the market experienced a table rice shortage in summer 2024. Reported reasons for the shortage ranged from policy-related restrictions, declining production output, climate-related challenges, stockpiling in private households for disasters, and increased demand amid surging number of tourists, among others.