Rice Shortages Drive Japan’s Food Self-Sufficiency to Record Low
Japan's food self-sufficiency ratio dropped to a record low of 37.11% in fiscal 2025 due to rice shortages and rising prices. The government's goal of 45% self-sufficiency by 2030 remains challenging as the country continues to rely heavily on food imports.
Why it matters
Highlights national food security vulnerabilities and the impact of climate or supply chain disruptions on domestic agriculture.
Japan's food self-sufficiency ratio on a calorie basis for fiscal 2025 fell to a record low of 37.11% in fiscal 2025 (April 2025 through March 2026), according to data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. While the total has reached the 37% range before, this level is even lower than the previous record of 37.15% in fiscal 2020.
The leading factors were the shortages and consequent soaring prices of rice in the period, which led to reduced consumption of domestic crops and higher imports, such as of California-grown rice sold in major supermarkets. The government has set a target of 45% for calorie-based food self-sufficiency by fiscal 2030, but that remains a distant goal, even without rice shortages.
Meanwhile, the self-sufficiency ratio on a production value basis rose 2 points to 66%, driven by higher prices for domestic rice.
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