On May 29, Japan began distributing government stockpiled rice to major retailers. A truck delivered 12 tons of rice to Iris Ohyama’s milling facility in Watari, Miyagi Prefecture, where milling and packaging operations started immediately, aiming for nationwide sales by June 2.
The rice, sold in 5-kilogram bags for 2,000 yen (excluding tax), proved highly popular, with reservations for the first batch selling out in just 45 minutes. This shipment is part of a larger government release of 10,000 tons of 2022-harvested rice. After rigorous quality inspections, the rice was processed using automated machines. Iris Ohyama confirmed that it maintains excellent quality due to cold storage.
Sales will launch on June 2 at three company stores, with online sales continuing. Initial batches will use existing bags labeled with a “Government Stockpile Rice” sticker, and full distribution of the 10,000 tons is expected to take over two months.
Iris Ohyama’s Watari facility, one of Japan’s largest, can process 1,000 tons of rice weekly. The company plans to enhance production with extended shifts and weekend operations. Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Officer and Head of the Administrative Division, noted, “We are committed to delivering this rice to consumers as quickly as possible despite challenges in sourcing packaging materials and labor.”