Japans Reisnachfrageschätzung wurde als Verbrauch der Touristen aufgehoben

I don’t often criticize the Japanese government but when I do it’s because of myopic decisions it makes. In this case, recommending farmers refrain from growing more rice than the population needs but failing to project tourist consumption. No small wonder prices are at a historical high.

Sounds like yet another article muddying the truth.

Title suggests the rice issues stem (no pun) from tourists (IE foreigners)….like „oh now we know why….“.

Actually the reasons have already been clear for a long time:

A.
poor government planning (restricting production etc)

and

B.
Market perversion by parasitic unnecessary middle companies (who make a business out of doing nothing other than exploiting farmers for the lowest harvest prices possible…and then hoarding until „pay day“ when they sting consumers with the highest prices possible for the weakest excuses…. possibly with collusion ala cartels).

IMHO, the government should be the ONLY one allowed to stockpile rice longterm (for emergencies). Hoarding/stockpiling in bulk for future market speculation should be outlawed. This restriction should apply to all domestically produced staple foods – for the health of consumers (eat fresh), to reduce waste (storage energy, spoilage etc) and to ensure the viability of farmers (who should be able to directly profit sufficiently in order to survive).

You’d have to be brain dead not to realize this is the effect of the usual collusion, price fixing, cabal-esque stuff and instead think it was due to “foreigners”. Seriously?