As a response to rising prices in Japan ¡ª particularly the recent resurgence in rice costs ¡ª officials are considering the distribution of ¡°rice tickets¡± to make the staple grain more affordable for certain households under the policy of the newly elected government.
¡°Regarding rice tickets, we are already responding using the priority support grant for local governments in regions that need it,¡± said Norikazu Suzuki, the new farm minister appointed under the government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. ¡°We will consider providing further assistance as part of our measures to address rising prices, including in these regions.¡±
Rice tickets are vouchers issued by organizations such as the national federation of rice wholesalers (Zenbeihan) and the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (Zen-Noh). They have been distributed for decades and typically offer coupons worth ?440 each that can be used to purchase rice.
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