Key Facts
• December 9, 2025: Minister Suzuki held a press conference after a cabinet meeting.
• Government promotes rice coupons as part of inflation countermeasures.
• Suzuki denied claims that rice coupons aim to maintain high rice prices.
• Rice coupons are issued by two organizations: JA Zen-Noh and Zenkoku Beihan.
• Each rice coupon is valued at 500 yen but provides 440 yen after fees.
• Suzuki emphasized efforts to reduce administrative costs of rice coupons.
• Critics argue rice coupons distort market functions and support price maintenance.
• Suzuki reiterated his stance to leave rice pricing to market forces.
• October 2025: Suzuki shifted away from prior government intervention policies.
• Previous administration aimed for a 5-kilogram rice price of 3,000 yen.
Summary
Minister Norikazu Suzuki clarified on December 9, 2025, that the government’s rice coupon initiative, part of inflation countermeasures, does not aim to maintain high rice prices. Critics argue the coupons distort market functions, but Suzuki emphasized they address consumer concerns about affordability without influencing rice prices. Issued by JA Zen-Noh and Zenkoku Beihan, each coupon is worth 500 yen but provides 440 yen after fees. Suzuki pledged to reduce administrative costs and reaffirmed his stance to let market forces determine rice prices, marking a departure from previous interventionist policies.
