最新価格5kg3588円に　銘柄米「2000円台」続々　11カ月ぶり 3600円下回る【スーパーJチャンネル】(2026年6月19日)

On the afternoon of the 19th, the average price of rice announced fell below 3,600 yen for the first time in approximately 11 months. Prices are even starting to drop to the low 2,000 yen range (excluding tax). ■ Premium Rice Varieties in the 2,000 Yen Range On the 19th, our reporting team visited a supermarket in Saitama Prefecture that was having a rice sale. Near the entrance, a wide variety of premium rice from rice-producing regions such as Tohoku and Kanto were lined up. Looking at the price tags, many were priced in the 2,000 yen range (excluding tax) for 5 kg. Of the 11 types of premium rice, 9 were priced in the 2,000 yen range (excluding tax), and in the low 3,000 yen range (including tax). Supermarket Marusan, Kuki Store, Rice Department, Kiyoshi Ozawa "Today's bargain is Tochigi no Hoshi" On the 19th, the cheapest rice was "Tochigi no Hoshi," an original variety from Tochigi Prefecture. It's selling for 2,799 yen (excluding tax) for 5 kg, and 3,023 yen (including tax). The latest average price of rice is 3,588 yen (including tax) per 5 kg. This is the first time it's fallen below 3,600 yen in approximately 11 months. At supermarkets, the popular brand of rice, "Koshihikari," has also seen a price drop. "Koshihikari" from Saitama Prefecture is 2,899 yen (excluding tax), and 3,131 yen (including tax). Elderly people living on pensions are expressing their joy. Woman in her 80s: "I buy Koshihikari or Akita Komachi. They're cheap. Most are just under 3000 yen (excluding tax). I bought them because they were cheap. It's a lifesaver." Man in his 60s: "Koshihikari from Saitama Prefecture. Because I'm from Saitama." "(Q. What was your reason for choosing it?) Because it was under 3000 yen (excluding tax)." Man in his 50s: "It's great to get it for around 2000 yen (5 kg). My child plays baseball, so I cook about 7 cups every day. I consume about 20 kg (a month)." On sale days, they say they lower the price to the low 2000 yen range (excluding tax) for a 5 kg bag. Super Marusan, Kuki Store, Rice Department, Kiyoshi Ozawa: "We're also planning to sell two 5 kg bags for 4990 yen (excluding tax)." With the new rice harvest just about two months away… Wholesaler Takeyama Rice, Representative: Takayoshi Ito "This is our low-temperature warehouse." How much rice do you currently have in stock? "We have rice from the 2025 harvest that we purchased stored here." Wholesalers in Chiba Prefecture usually run out of rice stock by this time of year. However... "We have about 400 tons of rice in storage. One reason is that the price of last year's new rice harvest was too high from the start." They say they are selling it at a price more than 1000 yen lower than the initial price. The amount of loss is... "If we take the price from last year's autumn as is, it's a loss of about 200 million yen. The main reason is that rice was too expensive, and people couldn't afford it. Our greatest hope is that people will be able to eat rice every day at a stable price." ■ "Late Rice Planting" as a Countermeasure Against the Scorching Heat The key to a stable price lies in "countermeasures against the scorching heat" for the new rice harvest. In rice paddies in Aomori Prefecture, rice planting was carried out this week about a month later than usual. The reason? Rice farmer Tomofumi Ono: "Two years ago, we experienced milky-white rice due to high-temperature damage, so we decided to try late planting." This new approach to prevent high-temperature damage is "late planting" of rice. If rice is planted in May, in recent years, growth has accelerated, and the rice heads emerge in July, coinciding with the intense heat of midsummer. By experimentally delaying planting by about three weeks, the aim is to delay the emergence of the rice heads and avoid high-temperature damage. "It would be great if we could secure a yield with all first-grade rice." It is also hoped that this will lead to price stability. [TV Asahi NEWS] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp