South Korean Rice Sells Out in Japan Amid Soaring Local Prices, Prompting Further Exports

As retail rice prices in Japan continue to climb, more Japanese tourists visiting South Korea are purchasing rice at large supermarkets. The photo shows the rice section at a major supermarket in Seoul. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, April 22 (Korea Bizwire) —  For the first time in 35 years, South Korean-grown rice returned to Japanese shelves — and sold out within ten days. Amid a historic spike in domestic rice prices, Japanese consumers are turning to Korean imports, not only for affordability but also for quality and taste.

According to the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup) and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), approximately 2 tons of South Korean rice were shipped to Japan and went on sale April 10, 2025. By April 20, all units had sold out, prompting Nonghyup to send an additional 10 tons later that day.

The rice, branded Ttangkkeut Haetsal and cultivated by the Okcheon Nonghyup cooperative in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, was sold through the Japanese Nonghyup’s online platform and Korean supermarkets in Tokyo’s Shin-Okubo district.

While South Korea did send rice to Japan as humanitarian aid following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, this marks the first commercial export since Japan began recording rice import statistics in 1990.

The photo shows the rice section at a major supermarket in Seoul. (Yonhap)

Sold at around ¥9,000 (roughly 90,000 won) per 10 kilograms — including tariffs and shipping — the Korean rice is priced about 10% lower than comparable Japanese products amid the country’s steep price increases.

Data released by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on April 18 showed that nationwide rice prices surged 92.1% year-on-year in March, with the average price of 5 kilograms reaching ¥4,214 (approximately 42,000 won). This marks the highest increase since January 1971. In some Tokyo shops, rice is now priced at over ¥1,000 per kilogram.

Analysts say the strong sales indicate not just cost-driven demand, but also growing recognition of Korean rice’s flavor and quality among Japanese consumers. With positive feedback and continued price pressures in Japan, South Korean exporters are eyeing further opportunities in the Japanese grain market through the rest of 2025.

M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)