Tokyo –
Starting tomorrow, something unusual will appear on FamilyMart shelves: government rice that’s been sitting in storage since 2021. At ¥388 per kilogram, it’s a lifeline for Japanese families watching their grocery budgets stretch thinner each month.
The convenience store chain is rolling out this emergency rice at 20 stores across Tokyo and Osaka, with a strict one-bag-per-customer limit to ensure everyone gets a fair chance. Originally planned for June 6th, FamilyMart moved up the launch after working out the logistics faster than expected—a sign of just how urgent the situation has become.
“We’re seeing real demand from customers who are struggling with food costs,” says one retail industry insider. “When convenience stores start selling government reserves, you know families are feeling the pinch.”
FamilyMart isn’t alone in this effort. The big three convenience chains are all jumping in to help:
7-Eleven will start selling pre-washed rice later this month at about ¥800 for a 2-kilogram bag—convenient for busy families who want to skip the rinsing step.
Lawson is offering both regular rice (¥700 for 2kg) and smaller portions (¥360 for 1kg) for shoppers who can’t afford to buy in bulk. But they’re also getting creative: come July, they’ll launch “Vintage Rice Onigiri”—rice balls made from older wholesale rice for just ¥120 each.
The fact that Japan’s ubiquitous convenience stores are becoming rice distribution centers shows how the country’s food landscape is shifting. These aren’t specialty stores or discount chains—they’re the corner shops where millions of Japanese people grab their daily necessities.
For many families, tomorrow’s FamilyMart launch represents more than just cheaper rice. It’s a signal that help is available when household budgets are tight, even if it comes in the form of 4-year-old government stockpiles sold one bag at a time.